A thug told his uncle ‘you’re f***ing getting it’ before launching a bloody shovel attack leaving his victim scarred.
Spencer Fairhurst, 31, repeatedly struck his uncle over the head with a shovel outside his grandmother’s Hartlepool home causing his relative to fall and smash his glasses. The bleeding man managed to make his way into the kitchen but was attacked again by Fairhurst who rained down punches on his head and kneeled on his chest.
Teesside Crown Court heard the attack – which happened in summer last year – only stopped due to the defendant’s grandmother shouting at him. Fairhurst appeared on Monday to be sentenced for the May 5 attack after admitting section 18 grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offence weapon.
The prosecution said the defendant hadn’t been in contact with his relative for around 20 years. However, the pair reunited at his grandmother’s house when the victim and his wife were helping decorate and tidy her home.
However, the court heard things quickly turned sour when the defendant picked up a large kitchen knife placing it onto top of the oven and asking his grandmother “where is the axe?”
The prosecutor said: “He then proceeded to go into the garden and take possession of a shovel. He approached [name of victim] at the car and shouted ‘you’re f***ing getting it’.
“He began to strike him multiple times to the head with the shovel. This happened three or four times. [Name of victim] fell to the floor smashing his glasses in the process and stated he was bleeding heavily from his head.”
The defendant of Windermere Road, Hartlepool, stopped the attack and the victim headed inside. However, just moments later he followed him repeatedly punching him in the head and face. The court heard the victim fell to the floor as the defendant put his knee to the man’s chest.
The court heard Fairhurst only stopped the attack because his grandmother was shouting at him. The victim, a district nurse for 25 years, said he has been left scarred. A summary of his victim impact statement reads: “He now has panic attacks. He now takes painkillers and antidepressants to deal with this pain. His wife and children provide care from him. He has problems with the pain in his face in particular the area around his left eye. He has a scar on his forehead from the attack and also a cracked tooth.”
The court heard he is in the process of being medically retired. In mitigation, Stephen Constantine said the defendant is of previous good character asked for the case to be adjourned for a report to assist the case.
Judge Richard Clews agreed to adjourn the case until March 10 and granted the defendant bail. He told Fairhurst: “I want all of the information available to be able to make the right decision for the right reasons.”
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