Drunken thug is jailed after vicious attack on his stepfather
A DRUNKEN thug who grabbed his stepfather in a choke-hold and repeatedly punched him has been jailed.
Martin Smith, of Iveagh Walk, Riddings, had been out with his brother when he returned home and attacked Stefan Pridham, a court heard.
Lyn Bickley, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was described as being drunk and he became verbally abusive and aggressive.”
When Mr Pridham stood up to defend himself, Smith grabbed him by the shoulders and neck and he was dragged to the floor, Ms Bickley added.
She said the defendant’s mother tried to drag him off Mr Pridham, who then managed to escape to another room but Smith followed him and repeatedly punched him in the face, neck and chest.
The court heard Mr Pridham eventually managed to flee into the street, along with Smith’s mother.
Smith, 36, told police he had been drunk but claimed his stepfather had pushed him and shouted at him.
The defendant, who was on licence after being released from jail for robbery, admitted assault on September 24.
Serena Simpson, defending Smith at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court, said her client had suffered a breakdown and had been suicidal and depressed following a recent separation from his wife. As such, he had been living with his mother and Mr Pridham at the time of the assault.
Magistrates sentenced Smith to 12 weeks in jail and told him to pay £85 costs, along with a £115 surcharge. He was also given a two-year restraining order not to contact his stepfather.