A FRAIL pensioner who lived in fear of her son because of his bullying behaviour towards her is ‘desperate for him to get help,’ a judge has heard.
Hari Sandhu had been due to stand trial at Warwick Crown Court over an allegation of inflicting grievous bodily harm on his 75-year-old mother.
But a plea of guilty to an alternative offence of using controlling or coercive behaviour towards her, causing her serious alarm or distress, was accepted by prosecutor Graeme Simpson.
Sandhu, 50, of Seymour Road, Rugby, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months, with a rehabilitation activity and an 8pm to 6am curfew for three months.
Mr Simpson said that at the time of the incidents in June last year Sandhu was living with his mother, ‘a frail 75-year-old lady,’ at her home in Coventry.
She said he had mental health, alcohol and drug issues, and she was in fear of him and desperately wanted him to get help.
And she herself has some mental health issues since the untimely death of her older son, pointed out Mr Simpson.
“The defendant made his mother’s life a misery. He drank to excess and played music very loudly and behaved in a violent way towards her.”
On one occasion Sandhu put his hands round his mother’s neck which, although he did not apply pressure, frightened her, and he pulled the phone from the wall.
In the early hours of June 20, his mother was unable to sleep because of loud music he was playing in his bedroom, so she got up and went downstairs to make a cup of tea.
But he followed her down, and in the kitchen he punched her three times to her shoulder, to which she had already suffered an injury.
When Sandhu, who had a previous conviction for a public order offence, was arrested he denied doing anything, and claimed his mother had made up the allegations to get at him.
Mr Simpson, who had spoken to Sandhu’s mother before the trial was due to begin, added: “She is desperate for him to get help. She kept saying ‘Please ask the judge to help us.’
“She made it absolutely clear she wants him home.”
But referring to a pre-sentence report, Judge Antony Potter observed: “That’s something probation have very real concerns about.”
Preet-Paul Tutt, defending, said: “Mr Sandhu has given me instructions that he is fully remorseful. He has signed a basis of plea, and confirms that he accepts responsibility.”
Sentencing Sandhu, Judge Potter said the curfew was intended to ensure that he remains at his current address for the next three months, rather than returning to his mother’s home.
And he told Sandhu: “If you are able to control your drinking and get employment, that will be to everyone’s benefit.”
