Bromsgrove woman, 62, pleads guilty to assaulting her parents

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A BROMSGROVE woman, 62, has pleaded guilty to assaulting her parents who are in their 90s, and has been barred from visiting their home.

Redditch Magistrates Court heard yesterday (Monday) how Elizabeth Holbeche of Beech Road, Sidemoor, shouted in the faces of her mum and dad whilst drunk, leaving the disabled pair cowering.

During the row at her parents' home earlier this month (March 3), Holbeche also threatened to kill her 90-year-old dad and had grabbed a kitchen knife with a four-inch blade.

By going to her parents' home, Holbeche was in breach of a restraining order handed to her two years ago due a number of similar incidents.

The argument began when two female community support officers performed a routine visit to Sylvia and Eric Holbeche at their home to check if they were okay.

Unusually they were invited in but, the court heard, the elderly couple were 'pale', 'withdrawn' and 'staring into space'.

Before long the officers heard floorboards creaking and the pair's daughter Elizabeth appeared in the living room doorway.

She was visibility unsteady and 'had obviously been drinking alcohol'.

She used expletives as she shouted at her mum: "You brought them here."

After the officers asked her to calm down and took her mum out of the room, the 62-year-old turned on her father, telling him: "I'm going to kill you."

She pushed one of the CSOs out of the way and grabbed a knife from the kitchen which was wrestled from her by the officers who, during the struggle that followed, pressed the panic button to call for back up.

Extra police arrived at the scene and Holbeche was arrested.

Gurdeep Singh, defending Holbeche, said she turned aggressive because she feared police were going to take her back to prison which he described as the most 'horrible' experience of her life.

He added Holbech was so scared of returning to custody she intended to use the knife on herself and not her parents.

During the hearing, the Sidemoor resident broke down in tears several times and at one point held her mother's hand through the perspex while in the dock.

Magistrates adjourned the case until April and requested Holbeche see probation officers to tackle her drinking issues.

They added they wished to see a full report before deciding on a punishment.

Holbeche was given bail, but ordered again not to visit her parents' address unless accompanied by a police officer.

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