Carol Saldinack, says she is now suffering her own "punishment" at the hands of other family members who, she claims, have since shunned her.

Her sons Luke Newman, 27, of Winton Place, Worthing, and Oliver Clark, 24, of East Street, Chichester, together with Benjamin Hammond, 25, of Canal Place, Chichester, were jailed for two years after pleading guilty to assaulting Marc Parkinson, causing grievous bodily harm.

"I'm being vilified and ostracised because I told the police," said Mrs Saldinack, 51, who brought her family up in Littlehampton, but moved to Norfolk five years ago.

Hammond, Clark and Newman repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Parkinson as he lay helpless on the ground outside a Chichester takeaway last June, the city's crown court heard.

Mrs Saldinack was told about the attack by another member of her family.

Couldn't keep quiet

"My sons thought they would get away with it, because a mother protects her children. But I couldn't keep quiet about that.

"If the victim had died, I would never have forgiven myself. They have ruined his life.

"It was an agonising decision, the most difficult decision I have ever had to make, and now I'm suffering for it.

"I'm hated down in Sussex.

"As soon as they knew it was me, it started.

"I had to admit it in the end.

"The girlfriend of one of my sons told me: 'Your sons are in prison now. I hope you are satisfied. They are going to come out changed men, with criminal records'.

"I asked her how she would feel if my son had come home badly injured like that."

Det Con Kim Clinch, of Chichester CID, investigated the assault.

Confirmed key evidence

She said that while Mrs Saldinack's information had confirmed other key evidence from eyewitnesses and forensic sources, it had not been the main factor in convicting the men and leading to their prison sentences.

"It was a difficult decision for her to make, and has caused all sorts of backlash," added Det Con Clinch.

Both brothers had been in minor trouble before, said Mrs Saldinack, but nothing as serious as the assault case.

"I didn't do it out of malice. I was brought up in a decent family.

"I feel shamed at what they have done, sorry because of the damage they have done to this man and his life.

"They needed punishing. Maybe the time in prison will make them reflect on that."

"I keep asking myself whether I have done the right thing.

"Everyone must ask themselves the same question: do you stick with the bond between a mother and child, that is unbreakable?

"Their victim could easily have died, but my sons did what they did and ran away, leaving him in a pool of blood. They knew they had done wrong."

Unprovoked attack

The court heard the three defendants had spent the night drinking in The Globe pub in Chichester before launching the unprovoked attack after a chance meeting with company director Mr Parkinson and his friend at The Grill.

The attack left the keen golfer with a detached retina and scratch to the surface of his right eye, bruising and swelling to both eyelids, cut lip, forehead and eyebrow, perforated eardrum and bruising to his ribs.

Susan Lumbard, prosecuting, said Mr Parkinson suffered depression, anxiety, severe headaches and difficulties driving, playing golf and with his children, and carrying out everyday tasks like making a cup of tea.

Judge Anthony Thorpe said: "I have not the slightest doubt that late-night drinking is at the root of this violence and I just wish those who argued that all-night drinking would improve criminal behaviour would come and see the results that judges see every day."

Have your say

Do you think Carol Saldinack made the right decision to "shop" her sons to the police?

The vote result was 95 per cent yes, five per cent no.

What do you think?

How difficult would it be to inform the police if your loved-ones committed a serious crime?

Share your views, comment in the space below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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