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.

 

She said if she had kept quiet that would have made her as guilty as them.

 

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'

 

Police praised their mother for her bravery in coming forward, but Mrs Saldinack said she felt she had no option.

 

In an emotional interview with the BBC, she said it had been a difficult decision but was the "right and decent" thing to do.

 

"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."

 

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.

 

"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."

 

She said her sons were no longer talking to her and she had lost the trust of another of her children.

 

"It might be wrong in some people's eyes. In my eyes it's my decision and I have to live with that guilt now. I would not hesitate to do it again and my children know that."

 

The brothers launched the attack on the father-of-two outside a takeaway shop after a night drinking in Chichester in Sussex last June.

 

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.

 

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.

 

source : BBC News

If you were the parent of kids who did something like this, would you phone the police and turn them in. Or would you turn a blind eye because you should protect your family?

 

Is Mrs Saldinack very brave or very stupid?

well done that woman!!!

 

its about time more mothers /fathers took responsibility for their offspring.

Go on girl!!

 

Pity more mothers (and fathers) aren't like this!!

Has provoked great discussion in the ICR household today.

 

Both hoodied creatures thought this mother did the right thing.

 

And when asked what they thought I would do, they both rightly predicted me turning them in.

 

I think this mother was brave though, and she must be heartbroken at her grandkids not being allowed to see her by her 3rd son.

But then she seems to have raised a bunch of thugs.

 

 

Interestingly Mr ICR said he would not turn his sons in, that he would not condone their behaviour but not turn them in to go to prison. He has been duely grounded.

The mother did the right thing. She is a human being not a monster.

This makes a refreshing change from a recent case whereby a mother made excuses for the violent behaviour of her son. She sounds like a decent human being who was sickened by the behaviour of her sons and I applaud her actions. I do feel for her, it was a brave decision, very hard, but the right one!

Well done to this woman, She did the right thing.