Reading Magistrates' Court: son had to pull father off his mother in attack at Mortimer home

A MORTGAGE broker went "ballistic" and attacked his partner following a row over their child's behaviour.

The teenage son had to pull his father off his mother, Reading magistrates heard on Thursday, September 16.

Richard Williams had earlier consumed a bottle-and-a-half of wine before punching her in the face, the court was told.

Maddie Charlesworth, prosecuting, said he and victim Caroline Smith had lived together for many years and had two children together.

When one of the children returned to the family home in St John's Road, Mortimer Common and went to bed without greeting his father, Mr Williams followed him upstairs, the court hard.

Ms Charlesworth added: "The defendant had been drinking...his partner heard the conversation upstairs get heated and, in particular heard the defendant say 'you disrespectful ****.

"He came downstairs and Ms Smith asked him why he had used such language towards their son and what had triggered it. She was trying to confront him and he wasn't responding.

"She said: 'This is the impact your drinking is having' and there was a bit of a scuffle. He raised his hand in a fist and held it towards her mouth."

Ms Charlesworth told magistrates: "She told him if he hit her she would call the police - and he went ballistic. He was punching her in the mouth ; he grabbed her neck and pushed her to the floor.

"Their 16-year-old son arrived and assisted in getting the defendant off the complainant."

Mother and son fled to an upstairs bedroom and called police.

Ms Charlesworth said Mr Williams accepted he had gone "too far in self defence" and accepted her had pushed her, but denied the more extreme violence she had outlined.

Nevertheless, she said, the Crown was happy to proceed on Mr Williams' basis of plea.

However she added that the Crown would be applying in due course for a restraining order to protect Ms Smith from him.

Mr Williams admitted committing assault by beating on Tuesday, September 14.

He has previous convictions for fare evasion and for drink-driving, the court heard.

Simon Hammudi, defending, said his client, a self employed mortgage broker, "accepts with hindsight his behaviour was irrational."

He urged magistrates to adjourn for pre-sentence reports.

Magistrates agreed and meanwhile released Mr Williams on conditional bail.