Son punched mother in the face and sent her photo of himself holding gun

Courtney Reffell, 34, sent a photo of himself holding the firearm to his mother, and told her he was ‘fully loaded’

A son punched his own mother in the face and left her with a gash to her lip before sending a photo of himself holding what appeared to be a gun. He then sent a message which read: “I am going to shoot him dead now, fully loaded.”

Courtney Reffell, 34, was a passenger in his mother Janine Reffell’s car on June 19 last year when they were travelling to pick up a friend of the defendant. He was sitting behind his mother, and after picking up the friend an argument broke out.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Tuesday heard Mrs Reffell attempted to stop the argument between her son and his friend. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Prosecutor Hannah Friedman said the friend told Reffell she wished she had a supportive mother, to which he replied “the only reason she stays is because she feels guilty”.

The defendant then called his mother a “b****” and she responded by telling him to stop arguing or get out of the car.

He then punched the back of his mother’s seat two or three times while continuing to call her names.

Mrs Reffell pleaded with her son to stop as it was diverting her attention from the road and said if he didn’t stop his brothers would “do him”.

Reffell then got out of the car and punched his mother to the face before leaving.

The victim was left covered in blood as a result of her injuries.

She then received a message from Reffell, which included a photo of him holding what appeared to be a gun while wearing a balaclava.

The message read: “I am going to shoot him dead now, fully loaded.” He also tried to ring Mrs Reffell in order to shout at her.

The victim attended hospital where she received 17 to 20 sutures for a gash to her lip.

The defendant was later arrested at his home that evening, and was found hiding in the attic. Upon his arrest, he asked police if they were “joking”.

Reffell, of St David’s Crescent, Ely, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he has 10 previous convictions, including offences of battery and harassment committed against an ex partner.

In mitigation, Leah Pollard said her client understands the relationship with his mother will take time to rebuild and sobriety had “brought focus” to his life.

Sentencing, Recorder Paul Lewis KC sentenced Reffell to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The defendant was also made subject to a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement, a mental health requirement of six months and a drug rehabilitation requirement of nine months.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.