Man hit his mother because she laughed at his claim that Barack Obama was an alien

A man who claimed Barack Obama was an alien punched his mother at her home in Telford, Shropshire, because she laughed about it, a court heard on Friday. During the assault Shaun Watson told his mother: “I have hit bigger men than you and they have gone down.” Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said Watson, 25, had been out drinking with his mother and girlfriend last April, and that the three of them had returned to his mother’s home.

She said a row had broken out between them about conspiracy theories and the neighbours had called the police. When officers arrived, the defendant’s mother had told them everything was fine. However, once the police had left, Watson claimed he thought Barack Obama was an alien, which made his mother laugh. He had grabbed her and punched her in the face before throwing her to the kitchen floor. Watson continued to choke and punch her and at one point bit her nose.



Miss Lovegrove said Watson had grabbed a knife and tried to harm himself and that his mother received scratches when she tried to retrieve it from him. Watson had run from the house after the attack and called his mother the next day to apologise. She was left with a severe black eye, cuts and bruising. The court was told Watson had denied assault but had been found guilty after a trial on January 30 which he had not attended.

For Watson, of Merridale Street West, Wolverhampton, Mr John McMillan said his client did not attend because he did not want to lose his position as an enhanced prisoner at Dovegate prison where he is awaiting sentence for another offence. “He loves his mum. This was something that was fuelled by drink and he’s pleased that she would not like a restraining order,” he said. Despite the prolonged beating, Watson received a three-year conditional discharge.