A shameful son left his mother battered and bruised in a disgraceful attack.
Steven Briggs turned up at his mum, Julie's home, in an intoxicated state and fell over and banged and cut his head. She was concerned about his injury but didn't want him in the house.
A court heard he began nipping her back, shoulders and arms and she went upstairs to ask her daughter for help removing him. Briggs then forcefully tried to open the back door and got back in.
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Paul Caulfield, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "As soon as he got back in he became argumentative with his mother. She tried to avoid him and he followed him around. He became extremely angry and grabbed her forcefully by the arms then swung her around multiple times."
Mrs Briggs, who is in her 60s, had originally alleged that he strangled her but later said she couldn't be sure he did so deliberately and that part of the case was dropped. Mr Caulfield said: "However the Crown say this was a considerably violent attack which lasted for a considerable time."
Mrs Briggs was left with significant bruising, including to her arms, shoulder, ankles, legs and feet. She had a heart attack after the attack but prosecutors do not say that was caused by the assault.
In a victim impact statement, she said: "The assault by my son was horrible. Following the assault I suffered a heart attack and had to be admitted to hospital. I was not able to sleep for many nights due to the stress and upset."
Briggs, 35, of Canterbury Street, South Shields, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 15 months.
John Crawford, defending, said: "There had been drinking but no drug taking. Clearly it was a very distressing and, understandably, upsetting attack. She has since written to him indicating she's willing o forgive him, which is commendable to her.
"Out of an abundance of caution he has not responded until sentence is passed today. That shows a more mature approach. He has employment lined up."
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