'He left my father for dead after head-butt' Chief Reporter Luke Traynor reports on the anger of a Wirral family after a pensioner died following a violent yob's head-butt.

Byline: Luke Traynor

ASON whose sick 67year-old father died nearly three months after he was headbutted by a teenage yob has condemned the 18-month sentence handed to his attacker.

James Crawford, 18, was put behind bars yesterday for viciously assaulting 67-year-old Alan Corney as he enjoyed a walk with his wife in picturesque Parkgate, Wirral.

Warrington Crown Court heard how the teenager went "out of control" after the antique dealer had asked the yob to stop swearing on The Parade on November 14, last year.

Crawford admitted grievous bodily harm and was given a custodial term of under two years yesterday, the maximum Judge Stephen Clarke was allowed to pass.

But Mr Corney's heartbroken family admitted they were "extremely disappointed" by the result and strongly felt Crawford's jumping headbutt had effectively left Mr Corney "dead".

The father-of-two collapsed weeks later and fell into a coma from which he never recovered.

Duncan Bold, prosecuting, said: "The language they were using and their behaviour was described by Mrs Corney as disgusting, and she felt intimidated and vulnerable.

"Alan Corney approached them and asked them to keep their language down and took hold of the defendant by his clothing.

"Although causing no real threat, the defendant went 'sick' at Mr Corney, he went mad, jumped in to the air and crashed down on to his face with his head."

The court then heard how Crawford "jumped around excitedly and laughed" before running away."

Mr Corney, who walked with a limp and had a paralysed arm after two strokes, suffered a broken cheek bone and developed a blood clot on the brain after being head-butted.

He collapsed at home and died weeks later in hospital on February 6, after brain surgery which left him in a coma.

But because Mr Corney suffered a second bleed on the brain, it could not be proven evidentially that the head-butcaused his death.

His distraught family, h owever, disagr eed and said they still believed Cr awford's actions had effectively left the pensioner "dead".

Son Michael said: "Our family will never recover from the vicious assault on my father by James Cr awford.

"We welcome the conviction of GBH, but we are very disappointed we were unable to pursue the charge of manslaughter.

"The judge had his hands tied, he has received the maximum sentence that could be handed out.

"This could have been anyone''s mother, father or grandparent. You have to remember all he did was ask the two young lads to stop swearing. He had a paralysed arm and left leg, he did not look a well man, one of his last experiences of his life was being viciously assaulted by a hoodie.

"He went through the pain of the injuries, it was not a quick death, it was painful all round.

"Now I remember him in a hospital bed, rather than the good times."

Passing sentence, Judge Stephen Clarke said: "It has an all too familiar ring at what is happening time and time again in our villages, towns and cities.

"People act without any thought about the consequences of what they are doing and show the merest respect to other human beings. Courts can only do so much, the real problems lie in our society which has lost respect for each other.

"You {Crawford} were aware of what you were doing and aware of who you were doing it to, an elderly gentleman old enough to be your grandfather, and I hope you are ashamed."

Detective Inspector Andy Smith, of Cheshire Police's Major Investigation Team, said: "It was a cowardly attack and a vicious assault on a vulnerable individual. Norma, his wife, will never get over it.

"All they did was go for a quiet drink on Parkgate Parade."

Crawford, of Claypit Lane, Wrexham, has previous convictions for theft and criminal damage, and was living in a hostel at the time of the attack.

Cheshire Police initially launched a murder investigation before the charge was reduced to manslaughter and then to GBH.

On the night of the attack, Mr Corney had enjoyed a drink with his wife, Norma, when they saw foul-mouthed yobs outside their home overlooking the river marshes.

Two boys fled the scene after the attack and detectives appealed for help to track them down.

Son Michael spoke articulately of his father "standing up for what was right" in a moving tribute to him weeks after the assault.

From December 7 until his death on February 6, Mr Corney lay unconscious, barely able to communicate with his loving family, who held a vigil by his bedside.

After the charge of manslaughter was downgraded to GBH, a two-day trial was expected to take place this week, with Crawford ready to argue he acted in self-defence.

But the teenager changed his plea late on Friday to admit his guilt over the assault in the often quiet Wirral village, meaning Mr Corney's heartbroken wife Norma was spared the task of having to give evidence in court.

OPINION: PAGE 12 [e-mail] 'My father put my sister and I on right path - he was standing up for what was right' FATHER-OF-TWO Alan Corney had recently moved to the exclusive area of Parkgate from his previous home in Neston.

Locals said he had sold his house in Cheshire to Liverpool singing legend Gerry Marsden.

While living in Parkgate, the 67-year-old was enjoying a new life running an antique business.

Seven years ago, the fatherof-two had retired as a plant manager at the Unilever factory, in Port Sunlight.

He then started up his antique business and loved spending time with his family and discovering old objects of interest.

He left an adult daughter Alex, 35, and a son Michael, 37, who spoke eloquently about his father during a police press conference and after Crawford's 18-month sentencing yesterday.

His wife, Norma, is understood to remain heartbroken.

Following his shock death, locals spoke of their astonishment that such a violent incident had occurred on the often-quiet parade.

Drinkers from the Red Lion, in Parkgate, said: "We were all praying he would recover, but we got the terrible news.

"He was a quiet man, who was very close to his wife and children. It's difficult to comprehend."

Son Michael described his father as a "proud man with strong moral and family values".

He said: "My father never regained full consciousness for over two months before he died.

He didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye.

"We didn't have a final family Christmas together. We are only just beginning to come to terms with his death.

"Those who are responsible for the death of my father - a kind loving family man - will never realise what they have taken from us.

"My father put my sister and I on the right path in life.

"His life was stolen from him that night - for doing nothing more than standing up for what was right."

CAPTION(S):

Alan Corney - family kept bedside vigil James Crawford Couple went for a promenade walk - Parkgate waterfr ont, where the attack took place Alan Corney's son, Michael, appealing for witnesses at a press conference following his father's death Picture: PAUL HEAPS