An elderly woman was so frightened of her violent son – who made her life “a living nightmare” – that she moved out of her own Warrington home.
Carl Henry subjected his 81-year-old mum to months of physical and verbal abuse and in a drunken rage he even put his hands around her neck and squeezed, leaving her terrified.
His widowed mum Joan Henry eventually moved out of her Warrington home and moved in with his brother and told police about his behaviour.
But even though he could have left her dead by strangulation Liverpool Crown Court heard that she still loves him and just wants him to get help for his alcoholism.
Henry, aged 54 of Hamble Drive, Penketh, appeared at the court via video link from prison and was jailed for two years after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 and December 24, last year, intentional strangulation and common assault.
Judge Charlotte Crangle told him, “You having had a decent upbringing by your mother and were taken in by her when your relationship ended.
“You repaid her by regularly drinking and abusing her both physically and verbally, causing damage to her house and making her life a living nightmare.”
She said that the victim said that alcohol was to blame but the judge told him, “It wasn’t alcohol, it was you, fuelled by alcohol.”
On one occasion he kept going in and out of her bedroom falsely accusing her of having had an affair behind the back of his dad, who had passed away some time ago.
“You placed your hands around her neck and were squeezing. It is clear you were so drunk you do not know what you were doing. You could so easily have killed her. She was understandably terrified.”
Judge Crangle pointed out that studies show it did not take long for someone to become unconscious when strangled in such a way.
“Your behaviour got to such a state she was forced to move out of her own home for her own safety and your brother put her up.
“For a lady at this stage of life to feel that way about her son is unthinkable. She still loves you and sees the best in you but despite all her efforts and others to help you, you have not taken that help.
“You have even had a stay in hospital where you were at death’s door and that did not shake you out of your addiction to alcohol,” said Judge Crangle.
She told him that until he accepts he needs help and takes it “you will find your relationships with her and others strained and difficult.”
The judge said that he is lightly convicted but has not demonstrated remorse and does not accept he has a problem.
She imposed a five year restraining order to keep away from his mum and not to enter Hamble Drive.
Oliver Saddington, prosecuting, said that in an impact statement Mrs Henry said that “she loves him very much and the one thing which is guilty of these charges is alcohol.
“He is kind in so many ways and I want him to get help. I hope through the system he will finally get the help he needs with his drinking.”
William Staunton. defending, had told the court that Henry had little recollection of events and had not wanted to put his mother through the ordeal of a trial.
