Son caused £5k of damage at poorly mum’s South Yorkshire home

Sheffield Crown Court heard today, Thursday, June 4, how Jeffrey Bown, aged 49, was found to have caused the damage at his mother’s home on Rotherham Road, in Maltby, Rotherham, after he took advantage of her vulnerability.

Richard Veni, prosecuting, said Bown’s mother is aged in her 80s and suffers with dementia and she wanted the defendant to move out when she returned home following a spell in hospital.

He added Bown’s brother subsequently discovered the damage at the property including a smashed window in the hallway, removed tiles, plaster hanging from walls, doors pulled away, exposed wires, a damaged floor and rear door, and a flooded kitchen floor.

Judge Peter Kelson told Bown: “It was your mother’s, your own flesh and blood’s property, and you were being allowed to stay at your mother’s house out of your family’s goodwill as a guest and while staying there all this terrible damage was caused.”

The defendant, of Woodside Cottages, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, initially claimed the damage had been caused by a burst water pipe and Yorkshire Water confirmed there had been a leak but this accounted for only some of the damage.

Bown, who has previous convictions including offences of causing damage, pleaded guilty to damaging the property between July and September, 2019.

He also admitted breaching his bail conditions by failing to surrender to the court during a previous hearing.

Kate Riekstina, defending, said Bown who has mental health issues admits his actions were reckless rather than intentional and he does not want there to be any bad blood between him and his brother.

Judge Kelson said he understood the value of the damage to the property was in excess of £5,000.

He told Bown: “Your brother is devastated at the condition he found the house in and your mother would be heartbroken if she knew but mercifully she is not because of her dementia.”

Judge Kelson sentenced Bown to 12-months of custody. He also imposed a five-year restraining order for the defendant to stay away from his mother’s address and his brother.