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Violent sons turned in by mother | Violent sons turned in by mother |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A mother has said she has no regrets about reporting her sons to the police after learning they had brutally attacked a man on a night out. | A mother has said she has no regrets about reporting her sons to the police after learning they had brutally attacked a man on a night out. |
Carol Saldinack, 51, of Norfolk, said she was so ashamed of their behaviour she could barely look them in the eye. | Carol Saldinack, 51, of Norfolk, said she was so ashamed of their behaviour she could barely look them in the eye. |
But if she kept quiet, she would be as guilty as they were, she told the BBC. | |
Luke Newman, 27, and Oliver Clark, 24, were jailed for two years for their part in the attack on Marc Parkinson, which left him blind in one eye. | Luke Newman, 27, and Oliver Clark, 24, were jailed for two years for their part in the attack on Marc Parkinson, which left him blind in one eye. |
'Piece of meat' | 'Piece of meat' |
Police praised their mother for her bravery in coming forward, but Mrs Saldinack said she had paid a heavy price for reporting them to police and still felt guilty. | |
For legal reasons, she is unable to talk to her sons, and on one occasion when she did, Luke Newman threatened her. | |
"He said: 'Mother, if you say anything else to the police, it won't necessarily be me, but you might not wake up in your bed one morning'." | |
In an emotional interview, she went on to say it had been a difficult decision but was the "right and decent" thing to do. | |
I did not put them in the prison cell - they did that themselves with the consequences of their actions that evening Carol Saldinack | |
"They did what they did to this gentleman and ran away and left him there in a pool of blood... as if he's a piece of meat." | "They did what they did to this gentleman and ran away and left him there in a pool of blood... as if he's a piece of meat." |
"I just can't look at them. I keep thinking, 'What on earth possessed them? Was it drink, was it temper, their own strength?' I just don't know. I just can't believe they have done this to somebody." | "I just can't look at them. I keep thinking, 'What on earth possessed them? Was it drink, was it temper, their own strength?' I just don't know. I just can't believe they have done this to somebody." |
But she said it was only right that the police should be informed. | But she said it was only right that the police should be informed. |
"If one of my sons themselves had come home - or they didn't come home one night - I would want to know why or who did this and for what reason and to be punished for what they have done," she said. | "If one of my sons themselves had come home - or they didn't come home one night - I would want to know why or who did this and for what reason and to be punished for what they have done," she said. |
"We can all turn a blind eye to situations in our lives and that's what's wrong with everybody now. We are teaching our children that it's OK to do this and it's wrong." | "We can all turn a blind eye to situations in our lives and that's what's wrong with everybody now. We are teaching our children that it's OK to do this and it's wrong." |
Oliver Clark, left, and Luke Newman were jailed for two years | Oliver Clark, left, and Luke Newman were jailed for two years |
Asked what she would say to her sons if she could talk to them, she said: "I would like them to forgive me - but then why should I ask for their forgiveness? | |
"I did not put them in the prison cell. They did that themselves with the consequences of their actions that evening." | |
The brothers launched the attack on the father-of-two outside a takeaway shop after a night drinking in Chichester, West Sussex, last June. | |
Mr Parkinson, 36, suffered a detached retina, a perforated eardrum and bruised ribs. | Mr Parkinson, 36, suffered a detached retina, a perforated eardrum and bruised ribs. |
A third man, Benjamin Hammond, 25, was also jailed at Chichester Crown Court for two years for his part in the attack. | A third man, Benjamin Hammond, 25, was also jailed at Chichester Crown Court for two years for his part in the attack. |
Det Con Kim Clinch of Chichester CID said of Mrs Saldinack: "It's very brave of her to give us the details." | Det Con Kim Clinch of Chichester CID said of Mrs Saldinack: "It's very brave of her to give us the details." |
Det Insp Jim McKnight said Mrs Saldinack's phone call had obviously helped in the investigation and there had been strong evidence, including forensics, which led to the convictions. | Det Insp Jim McKnight said Mrs Saldinack's phone call had obviously helped in the investigation and there had been strong evidence, including forensics, which led to the convictions. |