■ Mum gets restraining order against drug-user son,

72-YEAR-OLD WAS FEARFUL OF ABUSIVE DRUG USER

A VIOLENT bully who sponged drugs money from his 72-year-old mum and threatened her if she did not give in has been told by a court to leave her alone.

Lee Garrity, 46, put his mother through years of torment, but his threats and demands for drugs cash have grown worse in the past year, a court heard.

He has now been told he must not visit her home, in New Parks, Leicester, for the next six months after she was granted a restraining order by city magistrates.

He was arrested shortly after midnight on February 22 when the police were called as he tried to get into his mum’s home, kicking the front door and shouting insults.

Garrity, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to two charges of threatening behaviour.

Prosecutor Sally Bedford told the court: “The defendant’s mother is 72 and tells the court she has had issues with him over the past 30 years.

“He turns up at her house demanding money to buy drugs. He has been violent toward her – but she did not report it – and he brings his friends to the house and they drink and take drugs.

“She is concerned his behaviour is spiralling out of control and says ‘I’m so scared what will happen if nothing is done.’”

Ms Bedford said Garrity was abusive when police arrived and the officers had to restrain him before his arrest.

The mum said in a statement: “He makes threats and he is getting worse and I believe something serious will happen if nothing is done.”

Ms Bedford said: “His mum would like a restraining order. She does not want him to come into the street where she lives. She is very scared.”

Garrity’s solicitor, Shabir Mirza, told the court: “He accepts fully what has been said. He has used terms about his mother which I do not wish to repeat in court

“He says ‘I know what I have done to my mum. I’m stupid and foolish.’

“He tells me he was using class A drugs before and when he went to his mother’s house he was drunk.

“He cannot remember anything that happened that night, but he is deeply ashamed of his behaviour.”

Granting the six-month restraining order, magistrate Madeline Bonser told Garrity: “Your mum needs some peace and quiet.”

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34.