A TRAUMATISED former solider who attacked his mother so violently that she suffered fractured ribs and a punctured lung told her: “I know how to kill people.”

The chilling threat was made by 41-year-old former soldier Paul Fearon during his drink-fuelled attack on his mother Wendy at her Wigton home after she had innocently asked him to help with some gardening.

The 61-year-old later told police she feared her son would kill her. Fearon admitted intentionally causing his mother grievous bodily harm.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Daniel Bramhall described the violence, which happened at the victim’s home on April 23.

Fearon was in his bedroom when his mother asked him to help his stepfather in the garden, he had gave no response. “After ten minutes, she went back to him and asked him again if he was going to help her partner in the garden,” said Mr Bramhall.

“Out of nowhere, all of a sudden after being asked to help his stepfather, he launched into an attack on his mother. It started with him charging towards her, shouting at her and swearing at her and throwing her to the ground.”

He then flung his mother on to the bed and put his hands around her throat, telling her: “I can kill you if I want to; I know exactly where to get people.”

Fearon “rained down punches” on his mother, again shouting: “I know how to kill people.” He then moved away and punched a hole in the door.

“She was petrified of her son,” said Mr Bramhall.

“She thought he was going to kill her, not least because of the look that was in his eyes. While screaming in pain, she was able to escape from the bedroom because his fist became stuck in the door he was smashing.”

She ran outside to get help from her partner, who heard the commotion. After gathering his belongings, Fearon left a short time later.

Treated at A&E, the victim sustained four fractured ribs, and a punctured lung which had to be surgically drained. Even in the second week of May, she was still in significant pain and short of breath, said Mr Bramhall.

At the end of his police interview, in which he gave mainly no comment replies, Fearon was asked if there was anything he wanted to say. He replied: "I do feel bad with the situation my mam's in - about my mam being injured."

Ben Stanley, defending, said Fearon was given a suspended jail sentence just days before he attacked his mother. He had moved into her address and stopped drinking and taking drugs and his mother was supporting him.

Just after his sentence for the drugs offence, Fearon had seen the News & Star’s report of the case and this led to an argument between him and his mother.  She had expressed concern about what her partner would think, said Mr Stanley.

On the day of the attack, his mother had gone out and Fearon had bought a small bottle of vodka and consumed it, getting drunk.

“When she returned, he snapped,” continued Mr Stanley. As he was assaulting her, he realised he had gone too far and turned his anger on the door before leaving the house. After his arrest, he had emailed his mother to apologise.

“He said he didn’t want his last memory of his mum to be her on the ground and he wanted to focus on happier times,” said the barrister.

Referring to Fearon’s alcohol issue, Mr Stanley said the defendant had drank every weekend since 2008 but, since being remanded in custody, he was at his most sober since then. He now wanted to avoid alcohol and rebuild his life.

An earlier court case heard that Fearon had suffered the loss of seven comrades while in the Army on active service and was left suffering PTSD.

Judge Guy Mathieson said that a background report on the defendant, formerly of Sewell Lane, Carlisle, showed that he had struggled to come to terms with life after his Army service.

“I have read that you served with some distinction,” said the judge. “And that has led to a variety of issues with which you have struggled. Those issues may relate back to your time in the Army and that change from a structured life to a very unstructured life.”

Fearon had masked his problems with binge drinking, which led potentially to his loss of control, said the judge. “I suspect that your offending is part and parcel of that,” continued the judge, describing that and Fearon’s drug use as an escape.

Judge Mathieson continued: “Quite why you flipped on that day is not clear. Obviously, there was some drink involved. Your mum, it seems to me, had made an innocuous request. When you didn’t respond, she followed it up.

“Your mum came into your room and the red mist descended.”

The judge imposed a total of six years jail along with an indefinite restraining order, banning any contact between the defendant and his mother. Nor can Fearon go the street in Wigton where she lives.

Two years of the sentence is an activation of the earlier suspended sentence for possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Read more: Attacked Wigton mum still in pain from son's brutal attack

Read more: Police stop BMW car in Carlisle and uncover cocaine dealing operation

If you are affected by the issue in this report, you may wish to contact Combat Stress, which deals with veterans' mental health. The charity's helpline is: 0800 1381619, and you can also get in touch by email at helpline@combatstress.org.uk