Herefordshire builder assaulted dad in row over drinking

Daniel John Morris admitted one count of criminal damage and one of assault by beating when he appeared before magistrates.

Morris, who has a history of alcohol abuse, had been taken in by his parents and was working for their building firm at the time of the incident, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

But police were called to the family home on May 7 after reports of an incident at their home.

Morris was interviewed and accepted he had had argued with his parents because he had been out drinking and that he had kicked a door, causing damage.

He also accepted that he had barged into his father as he tried to leave the home, knocking him to one side.

OTHER NEWS:

• Herefordshire sex offender, 82, failed to tell police about phones
• Crash driver hit parked car and left the scene in Hereford
• Pub landlord hit customer with a baseball bat in unpaid tab row
• Herefordshire pair accused of £179,000 fraud sent to crown court

Chris Read, for Morris, said the 32-year-old had previously received a conviction for drink-driving and that he had been handed a community order as a result.

"As part of that, there was an alcohol treatment requirement," Mr Read said.

"He has an ongoing issue with alcohol and he had been living on his own, but unfortunately the work that had been done on the alcohol treatment programme ended up with a relapse. He was living by a pub and started drinking again. His parents suggested he move back home where they could help him, and he did, but unfortunately a couple of weeks later he went to the pub at lunchtime and there was an argument when he came home.

"His parents phoned the police because they wanted him removed to calm the situation down, and by the time they came, he had left, but he was arrested based on the initial phone call. His parents did not want to proceed, but he was charged."

Magistrates were told Morris had been accompanied to court by his parents, who are continuing to support him, and that he would like to be offered the alcohol treatment programme again, as the family felt it had been beneficial for him.

Morris, who is of West View, Almeley, was handed a 12-month community order with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and fined £100. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge.