Patrick Crerand junior, 61, was spared jailed after he admitted recklessly causing grievous bodily harm
Patrick Crerand junior outside Bolton Crown Court(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
The eldest son of Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand has been spared jail after he left his sister with a broken shoulder during a violent row at their family home.
Patrick Crerand Junior, 61, bundled over younger sister Lorraine and caused her to fall into a radiator when they began arguing after he spent the evening watching football on TV with the 86-year old former Old Trafford favourite.
Lorraine, 58, fled the £879,000 property in Sale not realising that she had suffered any injury. However, the following day she found herself in “excruciating pain” and after seeking medical treatment, she learned that she had broken her clavicle.
When confronted, Crerand Jnr denied wrongdoing telling one of her friends: ”She fell over p**sed – why are you believing an alcoholic for God’s sake.” Lorraine subsequently went to police and told how the injury had left her unable to dress herself, clean her home, or care for Paddy Snr and his wife Noreen, 85, without assistance from her daughter or a friend.
She further described being ”fearful of returning to her parents’ home” when her brother might be present. At Bolton Crown Court Crerand Jnr, from Altrincham, was issued with a 12-month restraining order, forbidding him from contacting his now estranged sister or going near her address after he pleaded guilty to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
He had originally faced a year in jail under sentencing guidelines but was given nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after a judge accepted he needed to continue his caring responsibilities for the Reds Legend and his wife.
Paddy Snr played at Old Trafford as a midfielder under Sir Matt Busby and helped win the English League title twice, the FA Cup, the FA Charity Shield twice and the European Cup. He also won 16 international caps for Scotland. The father-of-three also has a son who was also a professional footballer and eight grandchildren.
Paddy Crerand(Image: PA)
Patrick Jnr regular posts on social medias about his father – calling him ”The Number 1 red” – and pictures of him on X also showed him posing with Eric Cantona and lifting the FA Cup with Wayne Rooney.
‘She described pain as excruciating’
The court heard the assault on March 6 this year occurred when Crerand Junior and his father had been watching United on TV as they drew 1-1 in their UEFA Europa League match against Real Sociedad.
Prosecutor Alistair Reid said: “Lorraine Crerand acts as carer for her 85-year-old mother who is recovering from a broken hip. She had been at the address since 6pm and had made dinner for her parents. The defendant himself had been at the address watching football with his father.
“At around 10pm, the defendant went into the conservatory where the complainant was. An argument developed, with the complainant making comments about the defendant’s partner, to which Mr Crerand responded in abusive terms.
“The argument escalated to the point where the complainant asked him to leave the room. He then pushed the complainant, causing her to lose balance and fall against a radiator. Miss Crerand described her head and back hitting the radiator. She got up and immediately ran to the front door, leaving the property to get away from her brother.
Patrick Crerand junior outside Bolton Crown Court(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
“The complainant was able to reverse away, and drove home. When she arrived home, she did not realise that she had sustained any injuries due to the adrenaline and shock of the incident. However the following day she described the pain as ‘excruciating’ and bruising developed over her body that caused her to seek medical attention at hospital.
“On March 10, she attended Trafford General Hospital where she was diagnosed with a fracture of the right clavicle and muscular damage. This diagnosis was confirmed by an MRI scan at Manchester Royal Infirmary’s fracture clinic on March 21, where imaging confirmed the fracture was healing.
”On March 19, the complainant had told a friend about the incident and was sent a screenshot of a Facebook message sent from an account attributed to the defendant which read: ‘Just to let you know Diane I pushed Lorraine she fell over pissed, why are you believing an alcoholic for God’s sake.’
“The defendant was arrested on March 22, and he was interviewed the same day. In a police interview, the defendant admitted to pushing the complainant, but denied any further physical assault. He sought to attribute her injuries to intoxication and her own unsteadiness, suggesting she ‘fell over everywhere she goes’.”
Mr Reid continued: “Miss Crerand provided an initial victim personal statement at the time of making her initial statement to the police, in which she outlined the significant impact on her daily functioning.
”She said she had been unable to dress herself, clean her home, or care for her parents without assistance from her daughter or a friend. She further described being fearful of returning to her parents’ home when the defendant might be present.”
Crerand jnr, of Foxglove Drive in Altrincham, had six previous offences on his record including a conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1986 for which he got 28 days jail, the court was told.
In mitigation, defence counsel Saul Brody said: “This was an unpleasant incident but thankfully an isolated one and one that the defendant bitterly regrets. He accepts that the risk of injury was foreseeable but it was wholly unintended. He is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour. His parents were in the property at the time but they did not directly witness the incident.”
‘There is no justification’
Sentencing Crerand Jnr, Judge Jon Close also ordered him to abide by an eight-week 10pm to 6am curfew and 15 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service.
He told him: “Following an altercation with your sister you pushed her which as a result caused her to fall onto a radiator in the home of your parents, who by any definition are acutely vulnerable.
“Your sister was left with an injury. She had to receive treatment for a broken right shoulder and even some months later she still expresses an issue about that injury. She was unable to shower, dress, drive and relies on her children.
“I have read the pre-sentence report and clearly there is a complex and very difficult family background linked to long-term degenerative issues that your parents suffer from.
“I have no doubt that creates immense distress to you and to your sibling. It is against that complex and difficult background that there has been a complete breakdown in relationship with your sister. That breakdown was punctuated by this violence.”
The judge added: “There is a degree in your presentence report of victim blaming which is not helpful. She is the one left with significant injury yet there was a degree to which you justify your actions. There is no justification for you to lay your hands on anyone.”