Halifax: Man hit father with spoon after pasta attack

At Bradford Crown Court on Thursday, Gavin Sharpe was jailed after earlier admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm

A man who threw spaghetti bolognese in his bedridden father's face before hitting him on the head with a metal spoon has been jailed for 18 months.

Bradford Crown Court heard Gavin Sharpe, of Arnold Street, Halifax, was living at his father's house to care for him after a brain tumour diagnosis.

After a request from his 66-year-old father for help, the court heard Sharpe threw his meal and started to hit him.

Sharpe, 46, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard Sharpe had been receiving a carer's allowance to look after his father, who needed daily care.

On New Year's Day 2023, Sharpe "lost it" with his relative and struck him with the spoon, causing reddening and bruising, the sentencing on Thursday heard.

Sharpe's father begged him to stop, the court heard, with the man later telling other carers his son had hit him several times on the head.

'Simply disgraceful'

Recorder Taryn Turner said the throwing of food added an element of degradation to the attack, the hearing heard.

She told Sharpe: "What you did to your poor father that day was simply disgraceful.

"I know that caring for people can be difficult and it can be stressful, but you had outside agencies coming in to assist you."

Sharpe, who initially claimed the injuries had been accidental, was banned from contacting his relative for five years.

In a victim impact statement, his father said he was "heartbroken" about losing his son, but he now felt safer living alone.

Ms Turner continued: "It is heartbreaking in some respects that he now feels safer without you in his life, but that's how it is."

Lawyer Saf Salam, representing Sharpe, said his client had felt overwhelmed at the time of the attack due to caring demands.

He said Sharpe had depression and feelings of guilt following the incident.