Drug addict son jailed for harassing parents

Lewis (42) of Church Green, Wath, harassed Jean and Brian Lewis, who are both in their seventies, repeatedly.

He was jailed for 15 months, half of which will be served on licence, at Sheffield Crown Court last Wednesday.

Mr Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said Lewis had been given a restraining order on October 17 last year at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court for harassing his parents, which banned him from contacting them or visiting their home in Wath.

Lewis breached the order within 24 hours by going to their home and he was given a ten-week prison sentence.

He was released on December 13, and his parents applied for the restraining order to be lifted in the hope that he was a changed man, the court heard.

Lewis visited his parents on the day of his release and, as soon as he was in the house, told them he needed to go to Mexborough to buy drugs, Mr Coxon told the court.

When his parents refused to give him their car keys, he became angry and broke items around the house, including a plate which was given to his parents as a wedding present.

He also picked up a chair and threatened his mother with it, Mr Coxon told the court.

Lewis was eventually given car keys and he drove to Mexborough.

He returned several hours later and demanded money from his parents because he said he had a debt.

“His parents didn’t want him to come to any harm so they gave him money,” said Mr Coxon.

Several weeks later, Lewis punched his father so hard that it cracked his dentures and left him with a swollen cheek.

Mr Coxon said Lewis had made several demands for money and harassed his parents in the weeks leading up to the incident.

He said the victim impact statements written by Lewis’s parents were heartbreaking to read and they expressed a considerable sadness, loss and a feeling of regret at getting the police and authorities involved.

Lewis admitted harassment at an earlier hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

Mr Chris Aspinall, mitigating,  said it was a very sad case that would not be resolved in court.

“Both parents are still loving parents who still want to make contact with their son if he is clean of drugs,” he said.

Mr Aspinall said Lewis was motivated to tackle his drug misuse.

“He wants contact with his parents because he loves them and they love him and drugs have got in the way,” he said.

Judge Graham Reeds, QC, said Lewis had caused trouble in his parents’ relationship through his own conduct.

“Your conduct towards them as a son is nothing short of disgraceful and you have shown by your past conduct that you are not capable of behaving towards them in a responsible or lawful manner,” he said.

Mr Reeds said he could not suspend the jail term because he had no confidence that Lewis could rehabilitate himself.

Lewis was acquitted of assaulting Mrs Lewis and damaging her property, of assaulting Mr Lewis and blackmailing Jean and Brian Lewis.