A man dragged his mum from her bed and smashed her head against a wall in a brutal attack in their home.
Daniel Colebourne left Margaret Colebourne “black and blue” after a vicious assault in their home earlier this year. The 27 year old’s actions were so serious a judge didn’t just jail him but barred him from contacting her after she told prosecutors she never wanted to see him again.
Derek Jones, prosecuting, said Colebourne’s mum told police she “felt like she was walking on eggshells” while he was in their home in Bootle. On the morning of April 4 this year. he became angry for no apparent reason when she offered him some breakfast, grabbing the fridge in the kitchen and pulling it so violently the door came off.
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He then left the home but came back and tried to get his mum’s attention by shouting for her. Mr Jones said: “She ignored him when he was shouting her name. He went into her bedroom and slapped her very hard on the right arm. At the time he was not angry, he was laughing. She said ‘What did you do that for? It hurt’. He said ‘I was only joking’.”
Mr Jones said Mrs Colebourne was on blood thinners and her son was aware that this would make her bruise easily. Despite this, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of her bed before leaving. She tried to get her phone to call the police but he retaliated brutally.
Mr Jones said: “The defendant realised what she was trying to do and came back into the room and smashed her head against the wall twice, causing her to start bleeding.” She was left with an 8cm wound on her head and extensive bruising. Her screams were so loud neighbours called the police.
Colebourne himself called an ambulance and originally said the wounds were caused by an accident but he later admitted wounding and criminal damage. He has multiple previous convictions, including drug driving, battery against his mum and criminal damage against an ex-partner.
Paul Becker, defending, said Colebourne was deeply remorseful and ashamed of what he had done. Appealing to the judge to suspend his sentence in favour of further support from probation, he said: “There is clearly an anger problem which Daniel Colebourne has towards his mother and perhaps, and illustration through what the court has heard about in a different setting [Colebourne’s conviction against his ex].”
Mr Becker said Colebourne suffered from anxiety and depression and was in a precarious mental state at the time due to the death of his grandfather. Colebourne himself apologised during the hearing but also tried to question some of the facts heard in court.
The judge, David Swinnerton, told him he had left his mother “black and blue” and rejected calls for a suspended sentence, saying he had been given chances before. Judge Swinnerton said: “You, Mr Colebourne, are a man who cannot control his temper and who is a risk to those who are close to or around you in domestic settings.”
Colebourne, of HMP Altcourse, was jailed for 18 months. Judge Swinnerton also granted a five year restraining order after hearing a statement from his mum in which she said he “I do not want him to come near me ever again”.
