Pensioner forgives grandson for drug-fuelled assault

Apr 26 2008 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

A MAN who assaulted his own grandmother after demanding money to fund his drug habit was given a last chance by a judge yesterday to stay out of jail.

Philip Patterson already had a history of assaulting Rebecca Patterson when he attacked her in her home after she gave him £5 but refused to give him more and threatened to call police.

The 23-year-old also broke Mrs Patterson’s glasses, pulled the telephone from the socket and threw her mobile phone against the wall, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Patterson, formerly of Pitt Street, Newcastle, pleaded guilty in April last year to assault with intent to rob.

Mrs Patterson, 68, forgave him shortly after her ordeal, the court was told.

He was given a three-year community order with three years’ supervision, with conditions including a drug-testing requirement, psychiatric treatment, residence and an electronically monitored curfew.

He has already spent 658 days in custody on remand, principally because his case required the preparation of a large number of probation and psychiatric reports.

Passing sentence, Judge John Evans said that having been in custody for almost two years, Patterson was now drug free and when not taking illicit substances was a “limited risk”.

But he warned Patterson that if he breached the trust of the court by returning to drug-taking or failing to comply with any of the conditions of the order, he would find himself back in prison.

He told Patterson: “I know you are likely to see your grandmother during this period. In fact, notwithstanding you have assaulted your grandmother, she has forgiven you, indeed forgave you shortly after the offence was committed.

“But you are not entitled to expect that concern if you behave like this again in future.”

After the case was adjourned in April last year, Mrs Patterson vowed to stand by her grandson.

“I was never scared of him. I knew it wasn’t him, it was the drugs,” she said.