Man strangled his own mother when she had no money to give him for drugs

Thug Thomas Hughes, 40, turned nasty after demanding money from his parents - then threatened to splash petrol around their home, during a fit of rage Hull Crown Court heard

A violent son brutally choked his terrified mum in a desperate bid to get money for drugs.

Thomas Hughes, a serial offender, turned on his parents, demanding cash they didn't have. The 40-year-old even threatened to douse their home in petrol, Hull Crown Court was told. Hughes, previously of Pickering Crescent, off Hessle Road, west Hull, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation on December 28 and assault and threatening to damage property on December 29.

Prosecutor Nigel Clive revealed that Hughes started demanding money from his parents, but they couldn't give him any as they had none to spare. Despite their pleas for him to leave, he refused, leading to a physical altercation.

"He grabbed his mother's neck and began to choke her," Mr Clive said. "Her eyes watered and she felt like her eyes were rolling back in her head. It was deeply unpleasant.", reports Hull Live. Despite leaving the house, Hughes returned again demanding money. "His parents were telling him that they didn't have any," Mr Clive added.

In an attempt to help, the mother tried to speak to Hughes' drug dealer. However, when her son found out, he became enraged, calling her a "grass" and a "rat", before violently grabbing her and shoving her around the kitchen, threatening to splash petrol around.

Hughes found himself in hot water after a heated row with his brother led to the police being called. Hughes was then arrested, who later confessed that the bust-up was over drugs. With a rap sheet detailing 81 past offences, including a violent incident in 2018, Hughes was no stranger to the wrong side of the law. He had recent charges for carrying a weapon and tampering with a vehicle, all while flouting a suspended sentence from Hull magistrates.

Stay in the loop with Hull's latest crime and court dramas by signing up for our free newsletter. In a courtroom twist, John Dunning, defending, revealed that Hughes' mother testified that her son's attempt to strangle her didn't hinder her breathing. "This is a desperately sad case," Mr Dunning lamented.

"It brings home the damage that drug suppliers do. The altercation was wholly due to this man's desperate need for money to get the drugs that he craves. He has destroyed his relationship with his parents. They still love him and I suspect that he still loves them. That's the situation he now has to face."

The crimes painted a picture of Hughes' dire need to feed his drug addiction. Having already spent eight months behind bars, he faced the music once more.Judge Tahir Khan KC didn't mince words when addressing Hughes: "You went to your mother and father's home and there was an incident in which you put your hands around your mother's neck. That was an unpleasant thing to do and it left your mother, no doubt, feeling upset. The following day, there was some further misbehaviour."

Hughes was sentenced to 16 months in prison but, due to his time spent on remand, he was released shortly after. He was also given a five-year restraining order.