A TEEN thug launched a brutal assault on his own mother.

Jan 22 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Diane Palmer was so badly beaten after the savage attack at her son’s hands that she had to be hospitalised.

She has now ousted 19-year-old Darryl Palmer from the family home and disowned him.

But remarkably, at Ayr Sheriff Court this week, Palmer walked free from court despite admitting beating up his mum.

But after spending time on remand, he had to report to the homeless unit in Ayr’s Kyle Street in order to put a roof over his head.

At Ayr Sheriff Court this week, Palmer pleaded guilty to assaulting his 42-year-old mother at her Girvan home.

Depute fiscal Hayley Robertson told Sheriff Carole Cunningham that shortly before midnight on December 22, Ms Palmer returned home with her partner after an evening out.

She and her son started arguing in the living room and Ms Palmer’s partner left.

Suddenly, Palmer began a brutal unprovoked attack on his mum, punching her face and body.

Palmer used both hands in a frenzied attack against her.

But Ms Palmer managed to get to her feet and make her way to the hall. But her son continued the assault.

Ms Palmer tried desperately to shield her head from his blows with her arms.

But her bid to protect herself proved fruitless. As she managed to get out onto her front path, Palmer knocked her to the ground and she lost consciousness.

When she woke up, Ms Palmer thought he had fled the scene.

She went inside and phoned the police. When officers turned up, they were so concerned about Ms Palmer that they phoned an ambulance.

While they were there, they heard a noise upstairs and discovered that Palmer was still in the house.

He was arrested immediately.

Ms Palmer was kept in hospital overnight for treatment and observation.

She had bruising and swelling all over her face. Her eye was so swollen that it was closed.

Defence lawyer Ian Gillies said: “He doesn’t remember much about what happened but he does accept that this attack on his mother took place.”

Sheriff Cunninghame told Palmer: “Your behaviour towards your mother was unacceptable, utterly reprehensible and completely outrageous.”

But she sentenced him to 18 months’ probation with alcohol counselling and anger management to address his issues.