Violent man’s jail term ‘excessive’

A 25-year-old man with a shocking history of violent offending toward his parents — including holding his mum at knifepoint — has had his potentially lifelong jail term overturned on appeal.

William Lees Ashworth, of Cedar Grove, Royton, left his dad “shocked and afraid” when he trapped him in an upstairs room after a row, top judges heard yesterday.

Ashworth was imprisoned indefinitely for public protection after admitting falsely imprisoning his father, Lee, and criminal damage when he appeared at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court in September last year. The sentence meant Ashworth could have no hope of release until he could persuade the Parole Board he was no longer dangerous.

But Appeal Court judges in London ruled the sentence “manifestly excessive” and replaced it with a conventional two-year term, from which he will be released after serving half.

Judge John Diehl concluded by saying that he hoped the terms of Ashworth's licence on release would “assist in repairing the relationship" with his parents.