Three days ago Ben, 22, was jailed for six years for an attack on his father, Craig, who had a previous history of violence against his wife, and Ben’s mum.
Ben’s attack left his dad with brain damage. He admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but argued he acted only to protect his mum.
During the court case, Craig, 45, was described as having a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality and in one attack brought up in court, Craig had throttled Ben’s mum until her eyes bled during an incident in 2007.
Following the horrendous attack Craig was sentenced to two years in jail.
Ben’s mum took Craig back but in May last year, when Ben, from Billingham, heard noise coming from upstairs in his parents’ home he armed himself with a hammer to defend his mother from the “violent nasty drunk.”
Ben’s lawyer argued in court that he’d grown up in “an atmosphere of violence, fear and intimidation” and that he’d witnessed “excessive and extreme violence and threats of violence” by his father.
Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC reduced the sentence from 12 years citing “the degree and nature of the provocation that you’ve faced, not only on that occasion but on other occasions,” and Ben’s previous clean record however the decision has split opinion.
The online petition, which now has over 35,000 signatures, pleads for his release and, should it reach over 100,000 – a discussion of the case will be discussed in parliament.
“Ben tried to protect his mother from harm from his father of years of abuse,” Marie Taylor, the founder of the petition wrote.
“Ben got six years for protecting his mother and himself from an abusive man under the influence of alcohol. Ben has a recently become a father and is not going to be able to bring his child up and give him a better life than what he was brought up in.
“He has suffered enough.”
What do you think? Should Ben be freed or should he do his time?
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