Bolton: Man attacked by family after death of grandmother

Thomas Fothergill received injuries including a broken eye socket in the attack by Glenn Southworth and Ryan Southworth in Bolton two years ago.

On January 3, 2022, Mr Fothergill attended the address of his grandmother after he heard she had died to be met by the father and son, who are his uncle and his cousin respectively.

The prosecution, Benjamin Ramsey, set out how the duo assaulted their family member over a family problem which was not described in any detail at Bolton Crown Court this week.

Mr Ramsey said: “He made his way into the kitchen to be met by Glenn Southworth and Ryan Southworth. They attempted to push Mr Fothergill out of the house and he said ‘alright, I’ll go,’ but they proceeded to push Mr Fothergill. 

“The complainant recalls being hit up to 12 times to the face and to the head before falling to the floor. Glenn Southworth said ‘I’ll kill the f****r’.”

Mr Fothergill received injuries including a broken eye socket in the attack and in a statement he said he was “scarred”.

The Southworths, of Shepherds Close Street, were arrested and were charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.

Glenn Southworth, 49, denied the charge but was convicted at trial and Ryan Southworth, 23, denied the charge but was convicted after a change of plea.

In mitigation Alex Beevers and Ellie Akhgar said the father and son were emotional over the death of their much-loved mother and grandmother.

Mr Beevers, for Glenn Southworth, said: “He wasn’t in the greatest of headspaces and after returning to her home it ignited in him an uncontrollable anger.”

Ms Akhgar, for Ryan Southworth, said: “On the day he had said goodbye to his grandmother for the last time. This was an emotional set of circumstances.”

Glenn Southworth was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, while Ryan Southworth was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years. 

Glenn Southworth received a fine of £500 while Ryan Southworth received 150 hours of unpaid work. Both of them received a restraining order to stay away from Mr Fothergill.

Judge Elliot Knopf said: “This was an extreme emotional reaction to the death of a mother and grandmother. It is an explanation but not an excuse for what happened.

“This was uncontrollable anger which resulted in what you say you regret, and I am prepared to accept you regret it, not just because you have been charged and convicted of this violence.”

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.

Source – INDIA TV