CHORLEY MAN JAILED FOR ATTACKING HIS STEPFATHER LEAVING HIM UNCONSCIOUS
A Chorley man who attacked his stepfather and left him unconscious in a pool of blood has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.Philip Jennings, 33, assaulted David Wilding by punching him 21 times in the head at his home in Chorley.
Mr Wilding sustained a broken cheekbone, finger, and multiple bruises.
He was unconscious for an estimated 45 minutes, although the exact duration could not be confirmed.
The court was informed of a troubled history between Jennings and his stepfather, linked to Jennings' difficult childhood.
On August 6, 2019, Jennings visited his mother’s house while she was out and confronted Mr Wilding, with evidence suggesting some provocation.
Jennings then lashed out, punching his stepfather repeatedly to the head.
After the assault, Jennings left the house, leaving his stepfather unconscious, before calling his mother to request an ambulance.
Mr Wilding was hospitalized and treated for his injuries, making a full recovery within six weeks.
Jennings, from Hodder Avenue, Chorley, was convicted of the assault by a jury, although he denied grievous bodily harm with intent.
The court noted Jennings' prior conviction in 2011 for trafficking Class A drugs, for which he served eight years.
Since his release, Jennings, a qualified mechanic, managed to purchase a failing garage and set up his own business.
Judge Lazarus acknowledged Jennings' efforts to rebuild his life but emphasized that when he attacked his stepfather, he was still under post-release license conditions, aggravating his offense.
Jennings was sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment, during which the judge advised him to put the past behind him and move forward, indicating that prolonged anger toward his stepfather could ruin his life.
The court also acknowledged the impact of Jennings' mother’s terminal illness and subsequent death, but concluded that leaving someone unconscious with life-threatening injuries justified the sentence.
The judge stressed the importance of Jennings learning to manage his anger and move on from his past.
