An angry son admitted “losing his head” when he learned his mother had sent some of his clothes to charity, without his knowledge, a court heard.

On his own admission, Ryan Lee Smith “exploded”, threatening his mother with a knife, assaulting her and taking her phone to prevent her calling the police.

Durham Crown Court heard that Smith’s only previous conviction, for common assault in 2018, also involved him threatening his mother while holding a bread knife in the kitchen of their home.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said the latest incident took place on Tuesday, August 16, shortly after 6pm, when Smith returned home and became angry on discovering his mother had donated some of his clothes to charity.

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He went to the kitchen threatening to “slice your f***ing throat”, and then took a 6-in bladed knife which he held as he ranted to his mother, who tried to stay calm and remain seated.

Mr Pettengell said Smith rang his step-father to say he had five minutes before he was going to “slice her”, referring to his mother.

When Smith went into the kitchen his mother got up and went upstairs, but her son followed and kicked her in the back and then delivered further blows as she fell to the bedroom floor.

His mother shouted and screamed for help, before Smith went back downstairs.

Mr Pettengell said after a few minutes it fell silent, so the distressed mother went downstairs and locked the doors to prevent her son getting back inside.

She was unable to ring for police help, as Smith had taken her phone with him, but a neighbour, alerted by the screams, did make an emergency call.

On arrival police found the petrified victim with blood to her face, a cut to her nose, bruises to her arms and swellings to her legs.

Smith was arrested on returning to the property and when interviewed, the following day, he admitted all parts of the incident.

Mr Pettengell said the victim was left petrified, fearing she would die during the attack.

Smith, 23, formerly of John Street North, in Meadowfield near Durham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill and threatening a person with a bladed article.

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Jennifer Coxon, for Smith, said he doesn’t, “shy away from responsibility”.

Referring to a pre-sentence probation report prepared for the hearing, Miss Coxon said: “It’s clear he has difficulties regarding his emotions as a result of adhd and autism, for which he is currently not taking medication.

“That’s his wish. He doesn’t want to be on long term medication.

“He feels he has a clearer head without it.”

Miss Coxon added that Smith has struggled with his mental health while being on remand in prison since the incident.

“On the day of the incident he described himself losing his head and he was absolutely awful to his mother.”

Miss Coxon said at the time Smith had kept his emotions in, after an emotional setback with his partner.

“On returning to his mother’s address and finding that some of his belongings had been sent to charity he says he just exploded.

“He can only apologise to his mother.”

Imposing a 32-month prison sentence, Judge James Adkin told Smith: “For some fairly inexplicable reasons, including your mother getting rid of some of your clothing to charity, you completely lost your temper.”

The court heard that Smith’s mother did not wish for a restraining order to be put in place.

But Judge Adkin recommended a condition of his post-sentence licence should be to forbid Smith from contacting his mother, “who you seem prone to commit offences against.”

Read next:

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Four County Durham criminals hauled before Durham Crown Court last week

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