Man assaulted OAP during 'terrifying' attack in her Market Drayton home
A man let himself into the home of complete strangers – an elderly couple – and assaulted the wife in a drunken episode after falling out with his girlfriend, a court heard.
Magistrates in Shrewsbury heard how Timothy Andrew Espley let himself in through the back door of Virginia and Gerald Morgan's Market Drayton home.
He talked to the couple for a while before leaving, then went back and assaulted Mrs Morgan in what chairman of the bench Mr C Potts described as a "frightening" attack.
Espley, of Smithfield Road, Market Drayton – the home he shares with his grandmother – pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
The attack happened on August 22 at Mr and Mrs Morgan's home.
Mr Mike Phillips, prosecuting, said on the night of the offence 74-year-old Mr Morgan was watching television in the kitchen and had the back door open as it was hot.
Espley, 23, who had never met the couple before, entered through the rear garden and walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. He spoke to Mr Morgan about his grandad.
The court heard how Espley, who smelled of alcohol, left when 70-year-old Mrs Morgan called the police. However a short while later, there was a knock at the door. The couple thought it was the police but it turned out to be Espley.
He pushed Mrs Morgan over, trod on her foot and grabbed her right arm before putting his hands around her neck and giving her an "angry look" before walking out of the front door.
When police officers arrived at the couple's address they saw a palm print on the door which was later identified as Espley's. Officers also noticed red marks on Mrs Morgan's neck.
Police later located Espley and he told them he had fallen out with his girlfriend that day, so had been drinking.
He admitted being responsible for what had happened and said he was sorry.
Mr Phillips told the court how Espley, who works at Muller Wiseman Dairies in Market Drayton, had "found it difficult" to accept he had taken hold of Mrs Morgan's neck.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order on Espley, as well as ordering him to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay a £150 court charge, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
A restraining order was also placed on Espley so he does not contact the couple or go near their home.
Mr Paul Nicholas, for Espley, said this was a "bizarre and sad case" but also a "serious matter".
He said: "This is a man who lives with his grandmother. His grandad died 10 years ago and he was close to him, he visits his grave often."
Mr Nicholas said Espley had been with his partner for six years and she was a "stable part" of his life but at that time they had been arguing frequently so he drank because he was upset.
