A man threatened to slice his own mother's throat after flying into a rage when he found out she'd donated some of his clothes to charity.
Ryan Lee Smith "lost his temper" and armed himself with a knife after finding out his mum had sent some of his clothes to charity without his permission. The 23-year-old then made terrifying threats and assaulted her, before taking her phone off her to stop her from calling the police.
Smith, formerly of John Street North, Meadowfield, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham on Thursday to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, making threats to kill and threatening a person with a bladed article. He had pleaded guilty to the charges.
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Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said Smith returned home just after 6pm on August 16 and became angry when he found out his mother had donated some of his clothes to charity. He told her he would “slice your f***ing throat”, and then picked up a knife while continuing to shout at her. Smith then rang his step-dad, telling him he had five minutes before he was going to “slice her”.
Smith then went on to kick her in the back and delivered further blows as she fell to the floor and screamed for help. Mr Pettengell said Smith's mother was later able to go downstairs and lock the doors to prevent her son getting back inside. Upon leaving, Smith had taken her phone with him, but a neighbour managed to call the emergency services.
Smith's mother, who feared she was going to be killed, was left with blood on her face, a cut to her nose, bruises to her arms and swellings to her legs, the court heard. Smith was later arrested.
The court heard that Smith had one previous conviction for common assault in 2018, which also involved him threatening his mother while in possession of a bread knife.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Smith accepted full responsibility for his actions, saying: “It’s clear he has difficulties regarding his emotions as a result of ADHD and autism, for which he is currently not taking medication. That’s his wish. He doesn’t want to be on long term medication. He feels he has a clearer head without it.”
Miss Coxon added: “On the day of the incident he described himself losing his head and he was absolutely awful to his mother. On returning to his mother’s address and finding that some of his belongings had been sent to charity he says he just exploded. He can only apologise to his mother.”
Sentencing Smith, Judge James Adkin said: “For some fairly inexplicable reasons, including your mother getting rid of some of your clothing to charity, you completely lost your temper.” Smith was jailed for 32 months, with a recommendation being made that a condition of his post-sentence licence should be to forbid Smith from contacting his mother.
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