A terrified young mother has revealed how she grabbed her baby and ran for her life when her drunk boyfriend went a rampage with a pickaxe attacking her family.
Courtney Whitfield was celebrating her 20th birthday with a quiet family meal in St Helens, Merseyside, when an argument broke out with boyfriend, Michael Greenall.
Michael, 26, had bought a bottle of vodka to the party and was drunk when he kicked over a glass table and grabbed Courtney’s dad, Colin Whitfield, 46, by the throat and battered him with two pickaxe handles as Courtney and their eight-month-old baby son, Noah cowered in the corner.
Courtney Whitfield was celebrating her 20th birthday with a quiet family meal in St Helens, Merseyside, when an argument broke out with boyfriend, Michael Greenall (pictured together left). Michael, 26, had bought a bottle of vodka to the party and was drunk when he kicked over a glass table and grabbed Courtney’s dad, Colin Whitfield, 46, by the throat and battered him with two pickaxe handles as his Courtney and their eight-month-old baby son, Noah cowered in the corner. Courtney is pictured with her Dad, left
Courtney has revealed how she grabbed her baby son, Noah (pictured together), and ran for her life when her drunk boyfriend went a rampage with a pickaxe attacking her family
Greenall from St Helens, Merseyside, then chased Colin around his house and attacked him repeatedly with the weapons causing life changing injuries to his head and lower leg.
Shocked Courtney, now 21, told how she grabbed Noah, and fled to a nearby shop as Greenall ran off before police arrived.
He was arrested later that night and released on bail.
But just days later, Greenall randomly attacked a 15-year-old girl and threatened her father with a kitchen knife.
Greenall from St Helens, Merseyside, then chased Colin around his house and attacked him repeatedly with the weapons causing life changing injuries to his head and lower leg, leaving the full-time carer with life-threatening injuries. His leg is pictured after an operation
Days after the attack, Grenall hit a random 15-year-old girl with a pickaxe while he was out on bail. Colin’s injuries are pictured
Shocked Courtney, now 21, told how she grabbed Noah, and fled to a nearby shop as Greenall ran off before police arrived
The couple met at a friend’s house and she fell pregnant three months later with their son Noah, pictured now.
He was locked up this week for 11 years and 10 months after a judge branded him a serious risk.
Judge Gary Woodhall told him he ‘had no hesitation’ concluding the out-of-control thug ‘posed a significant risk of serious harm’ to the public.
Grenall, pictured, was locked up this week for 11 years and 10 months after a judge branded him a serious risk. Judge Gary Woodhall told him he ‘had no hesitation’ concluding the out-of-control thug ‘posed a significant risk of serious harm’ to the public.
Courtney, from St Helens, hooked up with Greenall three years ago.
The couple met at a friend’s house and she fell pregnant three months later with their son.
She said: ‘Michael worked hard so I didn’t see him much during the week. At the weekends we’d go shopping and go out for drinks.’
Their son, Noah, was born in April 2018.
Courtney says: ‘Michael had a temper, especially after a drink. But after Noah was born, he became controlling and we argued a lot.
‘I was close to my dad, but Michael caused trouble between us. My dad didn’t approve of him.’
Courtney celebrated her 20th birthday in December 2018 and had been planning a quiet family meal with her father, his partner, his partner’s daughter, Michael and Noah.
Courtney says: ‘I told Michael not to drink too much because it was a family get-together, but Michael bought a bottle of vodka.
‘He got really drunk and he was complaining at me that his parents didn’t see enough of Noah, which was ridiculous.
Courtney celebrated her 20th birthday in December 2018 and had been planning a quiet family meal with her father, his partner, his partner’s daughter, Michael and Noah before the attack. She is pictured here with her father
Colin (pictured) was rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries and treated for sickening wounds to his right leg, including a broken tibia and fibia, as well as a smashed ankle and head injuries
‘The next thing I knew, Michael had flipped. He went completely berserk for no apparent reason.
‘He went for my dad with a pickaxe handle. There was blood everywhere and my dad was on his hands crawling out of the house. He collapsed in the street outside.’
Courtney called the police before fleeing the house with her son.
She says: ‘I ran into a shop next door and they helped me to hide in the stock room.’
Colin has since endured four operations, and faces the prospect of many more. His leg is pictured
Colin was rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries and treated for sickening wounds to his right leg, including a broken tibia and fibia, as well as a smashed ankle and head injuries.
He has since endured four operations, and faces the prospect of many more.
Courtney added: ‘The attack has affected my dad very badly. We had always been so close but we’ve argued a lot since this. His confidence is very low and he can hardly walk.
‘I don’t go out of the house on my own, even though Michael is in jail. I’m very anxious, always looking over my shoulder.’
Colin, who is a full-time carer for his elderly mother, Sheila, said: ‘Michael was raging. There was nothing I could do to stop him. He seemed to have the strength of ten men.
‘Michael took real offence over something and nothing. He was complaining about this parents not having enough access to Noah, my grandson. It really was a run of the mill family situation that could have easily been sorted out.
‘But he flew into a violent rage and starred smashing things up.
‘He grabbed the heavy pickaxe handles from the cupboard and started battering my legs. The pain was unbearable.’
Michael Greenall, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link on Monday morning after pleading guilty to the two attacks and was jailed for 11 years and 10 months.