Drug addict burgled family home and beat up his father

Addict ‘had never seen his children’

Martin Johnson sat in a Crown Court dock l ooking much younger than his 29 years.

But a judge revealed that the drug addict’s youthful face hid a more sinister side – that of “a nasty, violent, bullying thug”.

Johnson, it was revealed, had beaten up his doting father, stole money from him, damaged property and burgled the family home in Speldhurst Close, Stanhope, in June.

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “In a civilised society you normally have respect for your parents.

“You are 29, although you look much younger than that, and you have admitted committing serious offences against your own father.”

Prosecutor Donna East had told Canterbury Crown Court how Johnson’s father, Clifford, had been so terrified after the beating, that he pretended to be asleep upstairs when his druggie son broke in looking for more cash.

Mr Johnson had already given his son £170 in cash – but instead of being grateful, he was assaulted.

The judge ordered Johnson to look at photographs of his dad’s injuries before jailing him for 28 months.

He told him: “You targeted your own father. You are addicted to drugs and that has made you behave like a nasty, violent, bullying thug.”

Ms East had revealed how after getting the cash, he attacked his father – leaving him with suspected cheek and eye socket injuries.

She added: “His father must have been clearly at the end of his tether, clearly distressed, frightened and intimidated by his son’s behaviour and constant demands for money.”

Johnson had taken his father’s wallet with £10 cash inside and then withdrew another £120 from a cash machine using his father’s bank card.”

The prosecutor said when he returned to the family home the following day the victim rang the police to report the addict’s attempt to break-in.

“He contacted them again to say his son had broken in and taken £30 in cash from a side table.

“Mr Johnson had stayed in bed pretending to be asleep because he was frightened what his son might do.

“At 7pm the same evening, the son returned a second time and smashed a porch window trying to get in again, “she added. Max Reeves, defending, said Johnson had suffered from his drugs addiction “for a number of years and had taken advantage of his father’s generosity”.

The lawyer added that Johnson had children of his own but had never seen them because of his addiction.

He added: “He is now extremely apologetic for his behaviour and feels very badly for what he has put his father through.”

Johnson pleaded guilty to common assault, fraud, theft and burglary and was jailed for a total of two years and four months.

Judge O’Mahony added: “You have children of your own ... what kind of role model are you to them?

“Your only hope is to seek treatment and rehabilitate yourself.”

Martin Johnson was told he had behaved like a “nasty, violent, bullying thug”

Judge James O’Mahony ordered Johnson to look at photographs of his dad’s injuries