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Man injured relatives by driving into wheelie bins


A WIRRAL man suffering from paranoid delusions injured his mother and brother by driving his car into wheelie bins which knocked them over.

David Charlesworth believed that relatives and neighbours were electronically bugging him and on November 6 last year he saw his mother, Glenys and younger brother Craig near his home in Kendal Road, Wallasey.

He was in his car but exchanged words with Craig during which Craig said to him, "You want to get off the drugs".

This led to Charlesworth getting out of his Citreon and punching him to the ground where he continued to kick and punch him, said Simon Duncan, prosecuting.

He got back in his car and his brother and mother decided to go back to her home, which was also in Kendal Road. As they walked along they heard Charlesworth's car coming behind them and turned to see it approaching at between 50-60mph.

The car crashed into some wheelie bins which in turn struck the couple and they were knocked to the ground. Meanwhile Charlesworth crashed the car into a low wall.

His 54-year-old mother suffered a cut to her head, which went down to the bone, and which needed 21 stitches. She also suffered other cuts and bruises.

His 31-year-old brother Craig suffered injuries to his left leg, which meant he could not stand on it, and also had cuts and tenderness to his head and chest. It took five weeks for his leg to recover, said Mr Duncan.

In a victim impact statement Mrs Charlesworth said that the incident had left her suffering from stress and headaches.

She worries about the detendant, with whom she had had a good relationship, and hopes that they will be able to become a family again.

The court heard that when Charlesworth was at the police station after his arrest he was showing delusional behaviour and an electronic 'bug detector' was found on him.

Charlesworth, 38, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault and dangerous driving.

After hearing that Charlesworth, who has no previous convictions, is suffering from schizophrenia Judge Adrian Lyon imposed a hospital order on him.

He told him that he must remain at the Springview Centre at Clatterbridge Hospital until the doctors believe it is safe to release him. He also banned him from driving for two years.

THE GLOBE

Crums, that sounds nasty.