Keiron Sherwood: Bracknell man jailed after stabbing mother

Keiron Sherwood, of no fixed abode, had harboured an ‘animosity’ towards his mother since his teenage years which culminated in the almost-fatal attack on Martins Lane, Bracknell on August 28.

The woman spent ten days in hospital after suffering stab wounds which punctured her lung and since the incident she has “struggled to come to terms with what her own son did to her.”

36-year-old Sherwood was today handed a prison sentence that will enable the family’s ‘security’, a Judge said.

The incident occurred when Sherwood was at his mother’s residence in August last year.

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Here, Sherwood had a disagreement with his mother about whether she was going to give him a lift somewhere.

Sherwood then stabbed the woman, in her fifties, four times in what prosecution counsel Christopher Amis described as a ‘prolonged assault’.

The victim’s lung was punctured and she suffered spine injuries from the assault and a brain injury from the resulting fall.

The crazed defendant’s brother then tried to assist his mother, but Sherwood turned around with the knife and caught his sibling with the blade.

Keiron Sherwood. Image via TVP

His brother fell over and Sherwood kicked him in the head three times.

Sherwood then stole his mother’s car before being arrested.

Christopher Amis, prosecuting, said Sherwood’s mother had been “struggling emotionally” since the incident”, adding that she had found it “difficult to come to terms with what her own son did to her.”

The barrister said Sherwood’s mother finds it hard to cut up food, put up her hair and can no longer drive.

“She no longer feels safe in her own home”, Mr Amis added.

A court heard how there was a “history” of Sherwood threatening members of his family, with the defendant wrapping his hands around his mother’s neck in a previous incident.

Their relationship soured in Sherwood’s teenage years when he was forced to leave the family home in order to ensure the protection of his siblings.

Gareth James, defending, said Sherwood had ‘various difficulties’ with mental health.

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A court heard how Sherwood had a personality disorder and would sometimes hallucinate.

He reportedly suffered a head injury as a child after falling into a swimming pool which affected his ability to deal with emotional issues.

Mr James said: “He [Sherwood] has a certain level of affection for his mother and he accepts things went very badly wrong on the day in question.”

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Paul Dugdale said Sherwood had previous convictions for theft, robbery, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.

Judge Dugdale presided over a trial in which Sherwood was cleared of attempted murder earlier this year.

He said: “What became clear from that trial is that you have a grudge against your mother.

“That is exacerbated by your personality disorder.

“Over the years it has been impossible to form the relationship with your mother that she would want.”

Judge Dugdale said the reality of the situation was that Sherwood “very nearly killed” his mother.

“Why you did what you did that day is unclear”, he continued.

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“There was a disagreement in the kitchen about whether she could give you a lift.

“On her evidence, wholly unprovoked, you stabbed her in the back four times.

“Each wound was an inch wide and two penetrated her to a significant degree.

“She was in hospital for ten days. There is no doubt the injuries you caused that day were life-threatening.

“That is why I say you nearly killed her.”

Judge Dugdale said he accepted Sherwood’s actions would have been affected by his mental health issues.

Despite this, he said Sherwood still posed a “risk of harm” to his mother.

“There is a clear pattern of animosity towards her that escalated to violence”, the judge added, claiming there was a “degree of revenge” in Sherwood’s attack.

Sherwood was handed an extended prison sentence of 13 years for wounding with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and theft of a motor vehicle.

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Eight years of this will be spent in custody, whereas the remaining five will be spent on licence.

Sherwood can apply for release from jail after five-years-and-three-months, however.

An indefinite restraining order was imposed on Sherwood banning him from contacting his mother or siblings directly or indirectly.

The 36-year-old was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 18.

Addressing Sherwood’s mother and brother, who watched the sentencing from the public gallery, Judge Dugdale said: “This is a very sad case and I hope the sentence I have passed is one that will give you some security.”