Jail for Mostyn man who held his mum underwater by her neck

John Butler, of Mostyn Road in Mostyn appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 36-year-old had been convicted after trial of assaulting Teresa Butler and damaging a door and lock belonging to her on April 23 this year.

Frances Wilmott, prosecuting, told the court that the victim, his mother, helped her son in various ways, including doing the accounts for a shop he ran on a Saturday.

On the day of the offence, she was planning to go to the shop to help but the defendant repeatedly called her and demanded she go immediately there, before seemingly changing his mind and telling her: "Don't f****** bother."

'Calling his bluff', she returned to her Bagillt home and decided to have a bath, locking her front and back doors up before she did so.

She had only been in the bath for one minute when the defendant crashed through the bathroom door and told her: "Get out of that bath and get to the shop."

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He grabbed the back of his mother's neck and forced her head under the water, holding her there for what she described as 10 to 20 seconds.

The water went down her nose and throat, and when he did let go she was choking and gasping for air.

He told her once again to get out of the bath and went downstairs.

Ms Butler tried to turn her phone on to call for help, but the defendant returned - now holding a large knife.

"Will you get out of that bath?" he asked - taking hold of her by the wrist and dragging her out, causing her to fall into a unit which fell and left smashed glass on the floor.

When a phone rang downstairs, he went to answer it, giving the victim chance to lock herself into her bedroom.

But he kicked the door, shattering it, and left the house.

Ms Butler was "shaking and sick" in the aftermath.

The following day, Butler called his mother 56 times from a withheld number, saying it was "her fault."

He told her: "This is the final nail in your coffin," making 48 calls to her the following day.

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Ms Butler didn't want to go to the police, but other family members decided the defendant had gone too far and reported the matters.

In a victim personal statement, Ms Butler said the defendant had known she had a heart complaint and was asthmatic.

The attack left her frightened and struggling to breathe, sending her anxiety "through the roof."

Despite the offences, the victim said she "loves John unconditionally," adding: "A mother's love will never end."

Robin Boag, defending, told the court Butler went into the army at 16 and left when he was 24, in 2010.

During that time he completed three tours of duty in Iraq and had "witnessed things there that had a lasting impression on him," leading to post traumatic stress disorder.

However, Butler didn't "accept" he had the illness, and at the time of the offences he wasn't taking his medication.

Mr Boag conceded: "It was an extremely unpleasant, nasty attack on his mother."

Judge Nicola Saffman told the defendant: "She was naked in the bath when you came crashing through the door.

"You grabbed her neck and held her underwater.

"You knew she was asthmatic and had a heart complaint.

"She was terrified.

"She has been extremely unwilling to go to the police - clearly she is a loving mother who just wants what is best for you.

"But your attack has affected her significantly."

The Judge said she took into account his Army service and PTSD, but imposed a custodial sentence of three years, half of which will be served in jail and the remaining time on licence in the community.

A three year restraining order was put in place to protect Butler's mother, who can - if she chooses - apply to the court to have it end early.

The Judge asked that the defendant be placed on the veterans ward at HMP Berwyn, instead of in general population.

"Do not let this sentence crush you," she told him.

"Use it to rehabilitate yourself."

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