A thug punched his grieving dad unconscious and attacked his stepmother after his gran's funeral. Ashley Williamson followed his father home and launched the alcohol-fuelled attack following his gran's wake at a pub.
The 33-year-old, who has a history of violence, had a confrontation in the kitchen with his father where he punched him three times, leaving him dazed on the floor. Mr Rodger Brown for the prosecution told Bolton Crown Court: “They were standing facing one another when he punched his father in the face.
“He fell to the floor, he didn’t see the punch coming.
“He felt dazed and fell to his knees. There were three blows.
“Diane [Ashley’s step-mum], hearing the first and second punch, came into the kitchen. She said ‘what have you just done to your father in my house’.
“He turned around and started abusing and attacking her. He grabbed her wrist to stop her calling the police, he then grabbed her by the throat and by the hair.”
Stepping in to protect his wife, Anthony took more blows which left him unconscious on the kitchen floor during the attack on February 19, 2020, Mr Brown explained.
The court was told that the couple were taken to hospital after neighbour Janet Heywood called an ambulance. Later on, the Pixmore Avenue resident returned to the Bardon Close address in Halliwell where he smashed windows and doors of the house as well as damaging two cars on the property - belonging to his father Anthony Williamson and grandad Barry Williamson.
Speaking on behalf of the defence, Ms Chloe Durose told the court how Williamson was ‘embarrassed’ that this happened at a family occasion and had no objection to restraining orders being put in place. He hopes to reconcile with his dad in the near future, Ms Durose said.
Judge Elliot Knopf, said that Williamson was a man ‘not averse to using violence’, referring to his past convictions involving violent behaviour. Speaking before sentencing, he said: “[This is] an appalling act of violence. Even more so on the day of your grandmother’s funeral.”
The judge sentenced him to eight months in prison suspended for two years for the actual bodily harm on Anthony Williamson, which he admitted to before the trial was due to start in August. He also issued a three month, two month and one month sentences suspended for two years to be served concurrently for the common assault on Diane Williamson, criminal damage on the cars and criminal damage on the house respectively.
A restraining order was issued for five years commanding him not to contact Anthony and Dianne Williamson as well as Janet Heywood and not to come within 50m of their homes.
He must also undertake 200 hours of community service and pay £500 compensation to both his dad and granddad.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- Devoted elderly couple killed after walking into road 'linked arms' before being hit by car
- Woman raped by Benjamin Mendy's co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie hours after celebrating her birthday, jury hears
- Shoppers spot one big problem with Morrisons £1 chicken offer
- "Not if it means turning into Little London": Readers share thoughts on latest city centre developments
- Gary Neville gushes about 'best pasties in the world' as he visits bakery with Amir Khan
