A man has been jailed for six years, nine months after he broke into the home of a woman in her 70s in Birkdale and attacked her with a metal bar.
Michael Gallagher, 34 years, of no fixed address, was convicted of aggravated burglary and actual bodily harm and sentenced today at Liverpool Crown Court.
Gallagher climbed through a bedroom window at the victim’s house at about 9.30pm on 30 September 2017 holding a wheel brace under his arm. When the 71-year-old victim challenged him, he struck her to the face with the brace, knocking her to the floor. He then tried to hit her again while she was on the floor, as she held her arms across her face to protect herself.
The victim managed to take the brace from Gallagher and used it to alert neighbours, by knocking it against the front door. Gallagher then fled through the window.
In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “I have had to deal with so much in recent years, I just don’t know how much more I can take.
“I have suffered nightmares where a male has been standing over me with a metal bar.
“I am suffering flashbacks and heightened anxiety. I jump and panic at every noise I hear.
“I am still very shaken and washed out and even going to the doctors was an ordeal.
“I was booked on a short holiday with a friend. As a result of this incident we have had to cancel the trip. I will be out of pocket and feel obligated to repay my friend. This was supposed to be a holiday to cheer me up after my recent operation.
“I have always tried to help people but this incident will make me thin twice in the future. I put myself out to try and help Michael, who I was led to believe was down on his luck. This is what makes what happened even harder to understand. I feel betrayed and will find it difficult to trust people again.
“I have thought long and hard in the last few days and feel that I need to move from the house I was only a week ago happy and secure within.”
Detective Inspector Robbie Moss said: “This was a brutal attack on a woman in her own home which left the victim with a facial injury and extremely distressed, but thankfully with no lasting injuries.
“We will continue to act on information to ensure that violent offenders are brought before the courts and removed from the communities in which they cause harm.”
OTS News on Social Media