NEPHEW AND UNCLE SMASHED UP HOME IN REVENGE ATTACK
SCARED WOMAN FORCED TO LIVE IN TENT ON GOLF COURSE
A GRIMSBY couple were forced to live in a tent after two thugs burst into their home and smashed it up.
Dayne Sparkes, 21, and his uncle Craig, 31, of Roberts Street, Grimsby, ransacked the couple’s home in a revenge attack after the man had “put through the window” of Craig Sparkes’ sister’s home.
After the pair smashed the house up, the woman felt too scared to stay and left her own home, choosing instead to sleep in a tent on a golf course in Immingham.
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court: “The couple spoke to a housing officer at first and they were put up in a hotel in Grimsby and then lived with the man’s mum.
“The woman became scared that the defendants knew where they were so moved to a disused golf course in Immingham. They slept in a field in a tent. They were eventually told by a passer-by that there was a disused shed on the grounds and they lived there. “The couple were given food by a charity before they were able to move into a friend’s house in Ulceby. They went back to her husband’s mother’s home after around four weeks.” Ms Stuart-Lofthouse told the court the woman has since had to be put on antidepressants and anxiety medication.
In a victim personal statement, the woman said: “I always have nightmares of people crashing through the windows. Sometimes my husband has to wake me up as I have panic attacks. I don’t want to live in Grimsby.”
As well as the charges of affray, burglary and assaulting an emergency worker, Craig Sparkes appeared to be sentenced for controlling behaviour after a disturbing incident in July this year that saw him jump on his wife’s car to stop her leaving their home and headbutting her on her return. Ms Stuart-Lofthouse said: “When she returned he threw her phone down the toilet and hid the car keys - although she found them the next day. She went to her parents and when he found out she had the car when she returned he slashed the tyres with a knife.
“He was abusive to her and grabbed her by the neck using both hands. He shoved her onto the sofa and he jumped on top of her and headbutted her.
“He then pulled a sound bar from the wall and threatened to wrap it around her neck. At this point the couple’s daughter called the police.”
The court heard Sparkes had beaten his partner on occasion and once even tried to suffocate her with a pillow. Andrew Bailey, mitigating for Craig Sparkes said that in terms of the first incident involving the couple, it was “relatively short-lived.”
Mr Bailey added: “There were no injuries caused to her. He did resist arrest but no injuries were caused to the officer.”
In relation to the assault on Craig Sparkes’ wife, Mr Bailey said: “He is and ought to be ashamed of himself. He has lost everything. It is a double loss, as he has lost his liberty and support. Not seeing his children while he has been remanded has been killing him. He is uncertain of the possibility of whether he can even write to them and that is upsetting him greatly.
“He is lightly convicted. This is behaviour that is totally out of character for him.”
Mitigating for Dayne Sparkes, Mr Longworth said: “His record includes offences that some young men are drawn to.
“He is now in what he hopes is a long-term relationship. They have managed to get through him being on an electronically monitored curfew. She has had to endure coming here to listen to accusations of his behaviour and that is indicative of her strength of feelings for him and her hope for him. “He is only 21 years old and can look at what he has done with his life so far and decide to put that on a better course. His partner is going to stand behind him. He is only 21. There is time for him to improve.”
Judge David Tremberg jailed Craig Sparkes for seven-and-a-half years, and Dayne Sparkes for four-and-a-half years.
A restraining order was also put on them in regards to the first couple, who both Craig and Dayne Sparkes must not contact until a further order is made.