The family of a mum who had her ‘head bashed in’ has slammed a soft sentence for her attacker – who walked free from court with just a week of community service.
Lindsey Feast, 30, was distraught after finding out her 52-year-old mum Wendy Feast had been attacked during a ‘horrific and unprovoked’ robbery at her home
Mum-of-four Wendy needed plastic surgery after suffering serious injuries to her face and hands as she tried to defend herself from a plank of wood with a nail on the end.
But her attacker, a 14-year-old male who cannot be named for legal reasons, avoided prison – and instead ordered to carry out just 36 hours of unpaid work.
He was found guilty of robbery and burglary at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Monday (April 23).
Lindsey, of Blackburn, Lancs., said: “The sentence is disgusting – this person should be getting done for attempted murder.
“It sends out a message that people can just go and bash a woman’s head in and get away with it – this is soft justice and the sentence is a real joke.”
The attack happened at Wendy’s home in Blackburn, Lancs., on January 5 earlier this year.
The robber stole the keys to to the Gill News and Off Licence where Wendy worked and used them to get inside – and steal cash.
The crook also took Wendy’s mobile phone.
Lindsey said her mum had suffered four gashes on her head, an open fracture on her finger and black eyes and was left needing plastic surgery.
Describing her mum’s injuries, Lindsey said: “She was bleeding and all you could see was blood everywhere.
“She was in a serious condition and they managed to stitch her up.
“Mum then had to have plastic surgery to the top of her forehead, top of her eyebrow and under her chin.”
After leaving hospital two days later, Lindsey said mum Wendy eventually returned home – but was forced her to give up her off licence job because she was too frightened.
Lindsey added: “She’s been left traumatised by what happened – not just physically but also mentally.
“Mum suffers quite bad panic attacks as a result of what happened.
“She’s had to come and stay with me and myself and my partner had to come and stay with her when she did return home.”
Wendy’s attacker was handed a 12-month youth referral order and will have to carry out 36 hours unpaid work and pay a £20 victim surcharge at the age of 18.
But Lindsey says she will continue to ‘fight for justice’ for her mum and plans to set up a petition against the sentence.
She added: “It’s not only had a big impact on my mum but also on the whole family – we will continue to fight for proper justice and a tougher sentence.”
