A mother and her son have been sentenced to a total of 10 and a half years in prison for a brutal and unprovoked hammer attack on a former acquaintance. Charlie and Laura Haynes assaulted Stacey Blackman in Folkestone, Kent, causing severe injuries including a fractured jaw and missing teeth.
The attack involved banging on Blackman’s door before using the weapon to assault her, leading to a prolonged attack that resulted in her being dragged into the bathroom and submerged underwater. Charlie, who was 19 at the time, continued to physically assault Blackman, causing significant harm.
Despite initially denying their actions, the duo was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court. Blackman suffered extensive injuries, including a fractured jaw, missing teeth, and other wounds as a result of the assault.
The motivation behind the attack was speculated to be related to revenge, possibly stemming from incidents involving property damage or a missing phone. The prosecution highlighted the level of planning and premeditation involved in the assault.
During the sentencing, their defense attorney emphasized that both Charlie and Laura had no prior criminal records and had shown remorse for their actions. However, the judge described the assault as vicious and unprovoked, leading to the pair being sentenced to five years and five-and-a-half years in prison, respectively.
In addition to their prison terms, they were ordered to pay a victim surcharge and issued a restraining order prohibiting contact with Blackman for five years. Both will have to serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for release on license.
The assault, deemed as a serious and senseless act of violence, had lasting physical and psychological impacts on the victim, who was considered vulnerable due to her circumstances. The court took into account the defendants’ caregiving responsibilities but emphasized the severity of the assault on a defenseless individual.