Crowbar attacker jailed for ten years

Michael O’Brien, of Brighton Road, Darlington, was given a ten-year prison term with a further four years on licence for the drug-fuelled attack a week before Christmas last year.

The 39-year-old’s victim fled from his Middlesbrough home in his bare feet and dressing gown with blood pouring from gaping head wounds after being hit with a crowbar, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

He suffered one cut that went to the bone, a broken nose, fractured finger and two black eyes in the assault, which has left him considering moving abroad. The widowed businessman, who asked through the police not to be named, said in a victim impact statement that he is afraid to have his daughter stay at the bungalow in Ormesby, and his partner will not sleep there either.

The court heard he was relaxing with a glass of wine and watching television when he saw O’Brien, who admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, three drugs charges and possessing an offensive weapon, trying to force his way into the property.

Rosalind Scott Bell, prosecuting, told the court that O’Brien – dressed in a highvisibility jacket – seemed “hell-bent” on getting inside and that being seen did not put him off.

The victim was shaking so much he was unable to open the front door to escape, and was beaten with the iron bar once the intruder got in and confronted him in the hall.

“He describes being very frightened,” said Mrs Scott Bell.

“He could see the defendant had a screwdriver in one hand and a ‘jemmy’ in the other. He struck him a heavy blow.

“The victim swung a punch back towards the defendant, however, the defendant continued his assault, hitting him at least another three times to the head with the metal bar.”

The householder was then put in a choking headlock and cried out to his attacker: “You are going to kill me,” to which O’Brien replied: “Yes I will if you don’t give me my money.”

After getting £400 from his jeans in the bedroom, the victim ran into the street where passers-by helped him.

Three men chased O’Brien as he dropped a safe and a mobile phone and detained him in Ormesby High Street after he climbed walls and fences in a bid to escape.

Dan Cordey, mitigating, admitted the December 19 assault was horrific and described O’Brien’s criminal record as mammoth.

Mr Cordey told Judge Tony Briggs that the raider was “in quite a state” at the time and had to be treated in hospital himself after his arrest for what amounted to a drugs overdose.

“While he does have a terrible record, he is not somebody who habitually in the past decade or so is going out committing acts of violence,” he added. “That, at least, offers some hope.”

The court heard that O’Brien’s first conviction was when he was 11. He carried out his first violent offence two years later. He has assaults on his record going back to his teenage years.

In August 2009, he was jailed by magistrates for punching a dog owner in the face during an argument after their pets got into a fight in Wilson Street, Darlington.

Last September, he was caught with more than £1,300 worth of heroin, amphetamine and heroin substitute, as well as a knuckle-duster when police stopped a car in Stockton.

He was on bail for the drugs offences when he attacked the 55-year-old, who said: “It is always in my mind, what happened there that night. It will never leave me.”

Judge Briggs said O’Brien had subjected his victim to a horrific attack and said: “You invaded his home in a violent and terrifying fashion and caused extremely unpleasant injuries.”

The judge awarded £350 and a commendation to the three men who chased and detained O’Brien, and to the wife of one of the men, who stayed with the victim until the ambulance arrived.

After yesterday’s hearing, Cleveland Police also praised the passers-by, and hailed the courage of the victim.

Detective Constable Richard Hodgkinson said: “This was a truly despicable crime by O’Brien, who was determined to enter the property at whatever cost.”