South Shields son banned from seeing his own dad for 12 months after leaving him with injuries in beating at family home

A son has been banned from seeing his dad for a year after assaulting him with a flurry of punches at the family home.
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David Cawkwell, 29, was in his bedroom in Baltic Court, South Shields, when he hit his father at least five times – and also pulled out a belt.

The attack left the older man with swelling to the left side of his face, cuts to an ear and reddening to his left eye.

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Jobless Cawkwell, of George Scott Street, South Shields, denied the charge but was found guilty of assault by beating after a trial.

The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

At the hearing, magistrates were unable to determine who had started the argument on Monday, December 14.

But they found Cawkwell had used excessive force during the incident – and convicted him.

He has now been sentenced to a 12-month restraining order which prevents him contacting his dad, or attending his home.

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Prosecutor Paul Anderson said it began as an argument after his father raised concerns about noise in the early hours.

“He has been threatened with a belt and punched a number of times and sustained injuries,” he said.

“The defendant admitted hitting his father but said it was in self-defence after his father punched him first.

“That was not found to be the case when it came for trial.

“It seems there’s no relationship between the parties after this incident.”

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David Forrester, defending, said: “There was a suggestion that his behaviour was unreasonable because it was excessive.

“This young man has no relevant previous convictions at all.

“His parents state that there has been something of a change in him since an industrial accident.

“He’s worked since school, but his work was with his father doing windows.

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“I think that he’s estranged from his family. Their whole relationship has changed.

“It’s his parents ultimately and one has to think that there’s some coming together at some point, but at the moment things are just too raw.”

Cawkwell was also given a 12-month community order, with a requirement of 20 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.

He was further handed a 12-month exclusion order not to enter Westoe Crown Village, South Shields.

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And he must pay his dad £150 compensation, and there was £250 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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