A frustrated son who snapped and punched his dad after struggling to care for him during lockdown sent a guilt-stricken Facebook message to a friend afterwards, a court heard.
Civil engineer Shaun Jenner, 39, from Tameside, twice struck his dad, also called Shaun, in the face after a drunken argument, leaving him bloodied, bruised and with a broken cheekbone.
He told a pal afterwards: ''I've just t*****d my dad'' with a crying emoji before posting another message saying: ''He kicked off with me first though.'' He then posted a picture of the victim sat on his sofa with blood pouring from his wounds.
READ MORE:
At Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, Jenner, from Stalybridge, faced jail after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm but he was given 19 months jail suspended for two years after he apologised to his father and admitted he was ''ashamed of himself.''
The incident happened on October 17 last year after Jenner had spent much of the lockdown on furlough and looking after his father who was said to be in poor health, Minshull Street Crown Court was told.
Inquiries revealed in the hours and days before the assault, both men had been drinking heavily and ''bickering.'' Jenner jnr had also been sending emotionally-charged text messages to another friend saying: ''My dad leaves s*** all over the place. I'm sat here now being sick.
''I tried to help get him from the front room to the bedroom and he lost his temper. I told him to 'f*** off' but he said he would smash my nose in. I told him if he said anything like that to me again, I will cut his ears off.''
Geoff Whelan prosecuting said: ''That day he sent messages to a friend complaining about his father's behaviour and having to care for him before there was a five-hour break before admitting to assaulting him.
''Police called by the family, attended at the house but initially the door was not opened. When they continued knocking the defendant answered the door and asked what all the banging was about. Once inside the house he led police to the front room and officers saw Mr Jenner lying on the sofa bleeding from his head with blood covering most of his torso.
''The defendant sat on the sofa opposite his father and told police he had fallen the night before and that he did not know why he was bleeding so much. He said he had been asleep and was woken up by police banging on the window.
''It seems his father did not know what had happened to him but told officers he thought his son might have assaulted him. 'There was no suggestion of any violence used against the father on previous occasions.''
Mr Jenner, Snr, 61, was taken to hospital where he was found to have a fractured cheekbone, bruising and swelling to his face and other injuries.
He suffered a seizure whilst he was being treated in hospital and he was discharged two weeks later. In a basis of plea his son admitted he and his father had been drinking heavily at the time of the attack and added: ''My recollection of the evening is poor.
''As far as I can remember we are arguing and my father started being aggressive towards me. I accept that I punched him twice to the face which was totally unnecessary. I regret what I have done and I am ashamed of myself.''
Stuart Duke, representing Jenner Jr, said: ''His father isn't in particularly good health and the defendant as he himself stated is very ashamed of himself as he should be in acting in such a fashion towards his father.
''He is a civil engineer and was on furlough during the period he was living with his father. They habitually bicker in any event and this defendant said the pressures of lockdown coupled with his own anxiety and depression has led to this unpleasant, spontaneous and short-lived incident.''
Sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Michael Smith told Jenner: ''You had lived with your father for some time during the periods of lockdown when you were on furlough and it is clear the pair of you had a difficult relationship.
''You got on well in some respects but you would also wind each other up and you drank to unsafe and unhealthy levels. Unfortunately alcohol made both of you aggressive, cantankerous and difficult.
''I accept that on occasions and including this occasion, your father behaved in a way towards you which was potentially aggressive and certainly provocative.
''But that is of course no excuse for what you did which went well beyond any sensible, justifiable response to the situation you found yourself in.
''You have demonstrated some degree of remorse immediately after the event in the face of messages and given what you have said since, I accept that remorse is genuine.
''You have shown some degree of insight into your situation, your feelings for your father and concerns for the future.
''But this was an abuse of a position of trust towards your father who by reasons of his age and infirmity was a vulnerable person. Some people think suspended sentences are an easy option. They are not.
''It seems there are underlying factors which require you to have help and that can better addressed in the community rather than prison. I hope this will enable you to turn the corner and enable you to rebuild your relationship with your father.''
Jenner, of Stamford Drive, Stalybridge, was also ordered to complete a nine-month alcohol treatment programmes, ten Rehabilitation Requirement Days and 120 hours unpaid work. Mr Jenner snr who did not give a victim personal statement will now be asked whether he wants a restraining order against his son.
