Alfreton man grabbed sister by the throat in family row about their mother's welfare

Jamie Dillingham got involved in the altercation on May 5 this year at an address in Pear Tree Road, Pilsley, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, October 29.

Dillingham, aged 52, of Spa Croft, Tibshelf, Alfreton, admitted common assault when he appeared before the court.

Prosecuting, Katie Hamill told the court: “This related to an assault on the defendant’s sister - there has been issues between the two over the care of their mother. Their mother has been suffering from mental health issues and she arrived alone on her mobility scooter.

“The sister saw that her brother was outside the property and because there had been this ongoing dispute between them she wanted him to leave.

“He shouted to his mother ‘You are not stopping’, and she left but returned after about 15 minutes.

“The defendant started to angrily abuse his sister. He said she was dead to him and then grabbed her by the neck and said, ‘I will kill you’.

“Her mother has lived with her for seven years and she said she doesn’t know what she’s done.”

She added that Dillingham had been offered a caution by police but had turned the offer down.

Speaking in his own defence, Dillingham denied making any threat to kill his sister and said police had never formally offered him a caution.

“I never threatened to kill my sister - that never happened,” he said. “I didn’t know that a caution had been offered to me, the police officer said he would get back to me about it and he never did. I’ve had no contact with the policeman since the interview. We were both shouting at each other.

“My sister came over to where we were and it isn’t even her house, it’s our mother’s house. This was a moment of madness and I lost control. My mother is now in a care home.”

Magistrates gave Dillingham a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

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