‘Our son attacked us for drugs but we forgive him’, say parents

A DRUG addict who pulled his own mother from a stairlift as he snatched her handbag from her to steal cash for heroin has been spared jail.

A judge told Bradley Hodkin, who also assaulted his father, that what he had subjected them to was “mean and nasty”.

But, despite their ordeals, they both wish to rekindle their relationship with their son.

And this was one of the factors that led Derby’s top judge to suspend the prison sentence she was thinking of handing him.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: “You caused considerable emotional distress to your mother, she was attacked by her son in her own home. It was a mean offence for her and a nasty assault on your father who was doing nothing more than trying to stop you getting away with your mother’s purse. Your parents are doing the best they can by you and the consumption of drugs is the cause of all of this.”

Two weeks ago, the same judge adjourned the sentence so reports could be prepared on the 23-year-old.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the offence took place on the morning of

April 1, this year.

She said: “His parents are both in their 60s and his mother has health problems. The defendant has had drug problems for about five years which escalated at the start of 2021, particularly heroin.

“He frequently asked them both for money and on the morning of the offence he did that.

“She locked herself in the bathroom but when she came out he was waiting for her. She got on the stairlift and was holding her bag. He pulled it from her hands and pulled her from the stairlift meaning she fell three steps to the ground.”

Miss Allen said Hodkin then tried to leave the property but was prevented by his father.

She said: “There was a scuffle where his (the father’s) head was banged against the wall. He followed the defendant into the kitchen and took hold of him from behind but the defendant fought back and he (the father) ended up on the floor.”

Hodkin pleaded guilty to theft and assault with the prosecution accepting the former as an alternative to a more serious robbery charge. He has no previous convictions.

Almas Ben-Aribia, defending, said since the offence took place, in Eckington, her client has been working for a scrap metal firm and staying at a friend’s house.

She said: “He is sorry, he is not going to do this again, he hopes to rekindle his relationship with his parents.”

Judge Shant jailed Hodkin for six months, suspended for two years and handed him a three-month curfew from 7pm to 7am each evening at a friend’s address which was not made public in open court. He must also attend 18 drug rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.