Man assaults elderly mother in ‘terrifying’ attack at Clontarf home
A 47-year-old man who beat up his 79-year-old mother in a terrifying attack and then threatened to kill the neighbours with a fork has been sent to jail – but he will not spend long behind bars.
Moreton
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A 47-year-old Clontarf man who assaulted his elderly mother and then threatened to kill those who came to her aid appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court via video link – charged with nine offences today.
Bradley James Beck, a father of two, pleaded guilty to each charge including; serious assault of a person over 60, going armed to cause fear, wilful damage and obstruct police.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall described the attack on May 21, 2020, as terrifying and the behaviour as deplorable.
“The serious assault would have been terrifying to the 79-year-old woman,” Magistrate Bucknall said.
“He physically assaulted her, squeezing her jaw, hitting her over the nose with his other hand, slapped her across the face four or five times.
“The other alarming charge here is when the elderly lady attempts to flee next door to a hair salon.
“He goes into the salon brandishing a fork in his right hand and says ‘Don’t protect her, I remember your faces, I’m going to kill you all’.”
During the incident Beck damaged his mother’s computer and letterbox – causing $800 worth of damage.
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The court heard a victim from the hair salon told police she had often heard arguments coming from the home and that she did not feel comfortable working there.
Defence lawyer Kerala Drew told the court her client had bipolar and had not been on his medication when the incident occurred.
Beck was on a suspended sentence for unrelated matters at the time of committing the offences.
Magistrate Bucknall said Beck was “no stranger to jail” and that he had a lengthy criminal and traffic history.
“It is deplorable behaviour, not only the assault on an elderly woman, but wilful damage of her property and then going next door where she was seeking refuge and causing serious and lasting concern to those people,” he said.
Magistrate Bucknall imposed a 12 months sentence for the serious assault, and nine months each for the wilful damage and going armed to cause fear.
Beck was convicted and not further punished in relation to the other offences.
The four month suspended sentence was activated.
Magistrate Bucknall ordered all sentences to be served concurrent and set a parole release date for September 20, as Beck has already spent 78 days in custody.
Beck was also ordered to pay $800 in restitution.