Aled Powell-Jones (Image: North Wales Police)
Last Updated: 19 seconds ago
A 48-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after he attacked his 79-year-old father, leaving him with a fractured hip.
Aled Powell-Jones, of Ffordd Ysgethin, Tal y Bont, Barmouth, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent following the assault on January 7 this year.
The assault
The court heard that David Powell-Jones, 79, had gone to his son’s property in Barmouth to deliver meals and a cheque for £400 the defendant had requested.
Prosecutor Elen Owen said that when Mr Powell-Jones returned with the cheque, “for no apparent reason” the defendant was in a bad mood, came out and shoulder-barged his father to the floor.
Powell-Jones then “kicked him to his left knee and other areas” before the victim managed to crawl to his car.
Mr Powell-Jones drove to his wife, flashing his lights, telling her: “Help me. He’s hit me. I can’t move, I’m in pain.”
An ambulance was called the following morning. His wife messaged Powell-Jones saying: “You must be proud of beating up a man of nearly 80 and leaving him in terrific pain.”
Background
Ms Owen told the court that Powell-Jones’ parents had concerns about his mental health since his 20s, but he had refused all help. He lived in a property owned by his parents, who paid his bills, bought his shopping, took him meals and gave him cheques for money.
Police response
When arrested, Powell-Jones was aggressive towards officers and had to be restrained. In interview he denied the assault, claiming his father had fallen after he grabbed his coat and released him, and that he had “gently tapped his father” with his foot to “get up”.
The impact
Mr Powell-Jones needed a hip replacement and has since relied on crutches, medication and physiotherapy. Previously fit and healthy, his mobility is now impaired.
In a victim impact statement, he said the assault “had completely changed his life” and he had been scared of returning home “due to the mental trauma”.
Sentencing
The court heard Powell-Jones had no previous convictions. Defending, Duncan Bould said his client had entered an early guilty plea, was remorseful and had suffered deteriorating mental health issues for a number of years.
Judge Timothy Petts said Mr Powell-Jones “needed surgery to fix his broken hip and that has had a severe impact on his life and his mobility, given the pain he’s been in and physiotherapy”.
He noted that Mr Powell-Jones was vulnerable due to his age and that this was an attack on a family member.
Powell-Jones was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with up to half in custody and the rest on licence. The judge accepted mental health issues may be a factor, but noted “there is nothing the probation service can offer you in the community”.
A 10-year restraining order and statutory surcharge were also imposed.
