A man is due to be sentenced next month for a serious intentional violent attack on his elderly mother at an address in Appleby.
Sean Van Diepenbrock, 58, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning.
During a short hearing in front of Recorder Neil Usher, Van Diepenbrock pleaded guilty to one offence.
This was causing grievous bodily harm to his elderly mother — a woman aged in her 80s — with intent to do so.
Van Diepenbrock’s barrister, Judith McCullough, said a formal explanation had been submitted for the entering of that guilty plea. This included the basis that mental health issues — and the submission he was suffering from a psychotic episode — had contributed to his violence, which occurred on 10th January last year.
An impact statement had been prepared on behalf of the victim, the court heard, but the prosecution will ask for that to be updated and also check whether a restraining order will be sought on behalf of the woman.
However, Ms McCullough said: “I understand she wishes to be in contact with her son.”
Van Diepenbrock, latterly of Doomgate, Appleby, had admitted damaging a window on 10th January, 2022, during an previous court appearance.
Recorder Usher adjourned the case and directed that a probation service pre-sentence report should be prepared to give the sentencing judge more information about the defendant.
Van Diepenbrock is due to be sentenced at the crown court on 17th February, and in the meantime he was remanded in custody by Recorder Usher.
