PSNI found elderly man (aged 90) 'covered in blood' after his son had assaulted him with a plate, Craigavon court hears

Jonny Titmus, aged 34, from Parkmore, Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Maghaberry Prison.

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Titmus faced a number of charges including assault causing actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon with intent as well as a charge of using threatening or abusive behaviour, and pleaded guilty to all charges.

The court heard that on August 14 this year at 7.30pm police were called to an address in Craigavon in relation to a 90-year-old man “who was covered in blood”.

When police arrived the elderly man told police he had been hit on the head with a plate by his son. This was after his son had come into his father’s room, where he was watching TV, to ask for money.

"The injured party alleged that the defendant hit him on the head which caused the plate to break and resulted in a laceration to the head which bled and required three staples,” said the Prosecutor.

When police entered the injured party’s property they observed a large amount of blood on the bed and a number of smashed plates. When arrested police did not notice any injuries to the defendant but noticed blood on his clothes.

Titmus’ solicitor Mr Richard Monteith said: “There is one slight variation from the facts as they were read out. A constable records in body worn (footage) and in his statement that the injured party had been ‘throwing a plate’ at his head.

"For what it’s worth, the defendant was highly intoxicated. He had asked his father for money and he had thrown the plate. It wasn’t a smashing of the plate on the old man’s head. It was throwing and it made contact.”

Mr Monteith said: "He has expressed, through me, his shame and remorse for what he did. I have met the injured party on numerous occasions. Going through Mr Titmus’ record, his father attended court with him on virtually every occasion.”

Mr Monteith explained that Titmus has only ever shared a home with his father and hopes to reside again with him when he is released.

"When Mr Titmus doesn’t binge drink he has worked hard throughout his life. At the time of this offence he was holding down a responsible and decent job and earning good money. But he does, and his record reflects it, when he is drunk behave in a very, very poor fashion,” said Mr Monteith, who added the defendant’s previous domestic related incidents were not related to his father.

“For him it is the ultimate shame to have used violence to someone who has loved him and looked after him throughout his life and he is deeply ashamed of that,” said Mr Monteith.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “Given the aggravated nature of this assault on your father who is 90 years of age, Mr Titmus, and your record, a custodial sentence is the only possible outcome.”

For assaulting his father, Titmus was given a six months jail term. For the other two offences he was given a five months sentence on each count. All sentences to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a £25 Offender Levy.