A woman from Newcastle was sentenced for assaulting her vulnerable mother in a violent incident that left the victim bruised and fearful. Caroline Aggas, aged 41, attacked her mother following a prolonged drinking session, during which she punched, kicked, and nipped her. The assault occurred in the victim’s home on September 19, 2023, prompting a call to the police from a speech and language therapist who was concerned for the victim’s safety.
According to the prosecution, led by Jennifer Coxon, the victim disclosed details of the attack to authorities. “The defendant had been drinking all day and night,” Coxon stated, describing how Aggas assaulted her mother in their living room. The victim reported that Aggas had not only physically attacked her but also threw water on her and discarded her medication out of a window, complicating the victim’s ability to retrieve it due to her mobility issues.
The incident escalated when Aggas reportedly kicked a television screen, causing it to crack, and pushed a knife against her mother’s chest, resulting in a small cut. After the attack, the victim went outside in an attempt to recover her medication, where she encountered two speech and language therapists who noticed her injuries, including bruises on her arm and chest.
In a statement to the police, the victim expressed her feelings of terror, stating she was “genuinely petrified” and struggled to sleep after the ordeal. Following the assault, she spent a week and a half hospitalized due to her injuries.
During a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Aggas pleaded guilty to assault, acknowledging she had kicked, scratched, and punched her mother during the altercation, but claimed she did not intentionally use the knife. Recorder Rebecca Brown sentenced Aggas to a 13-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. Additionally, she must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation program and abide by a restraining order aimed at protecting her mother.
In her sentencing remarks, Recorder Brown noted that the incident represented “a violation of the trust and security that usually exists in a family relationship.”
Aggas’ defense attorney, Jordan Parkinson, highlighted that there have been no further incidents since the attack and that Aggas had not been in contact with her mother. Parkinson emphasized that Aggas was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time, which impaired her judgment. She expressed remorse for her actions, attributing her behavior to a turbulent upbringing.
Despite ongoing struggles with substance use as a coping mechanism for her mental health issues, Aggas has received encouragement from her son to seek help in order to be part of her grandchild’s life when they are born.
