WHEN Oliver Rowe’s marriage broke down because of his drinking, his parents took him back into the family home. He repaid them by attacking them in a drunken rage.

The details of the attack were given to the Royal Court yesterday before it sentenced the 25-year-old to four months in prison.

He received a further eight months, to run consecutively, for assaulting a police officer who had responded to an emergency call.

‘The assaults would have been deeply distressing and upsetting and there is always the risk of serious injuries with punches to the head,’ said Deputy Bailiff Richard Collas before sentencing.

Rowe had been up all night drinking before an early morning argument with his parents about his alcohol problem.

When his father seized a bottle of vodka from him, he retaliated by punching him repeatedly in the face, cutting his left eye.

Then he turned on his mother and punched her at least twice until she fell to the floor.

The court heard she sustained a large swelling to the left of her forehead and bad bruising to her left cheek and right forearm.

He turned on his father again before picking up a serrated bread knife.

When he left the house knowing that the police had been called, he confronted two officers armed with the knife.

A scuffle ensued and eventually they disarmed him.

The incident occurred on Wednesday 29 March and he has been in custody ever since.

The court heard that Rowe had struggled with alcohol addiction and depression for several years.

He had gone back to the home of his parents and younger brother at The Elms, Rue Poudreuse, St Martin’s, after separating from his wife and young son.

His alcohol problem had been largely responsible for his marriage breakdown and for him losing his job at Cable & Wireless two weeks previously.

‘Prior to your arrest, your alcohol addiction reached such an extent that it was ruining your life,’ said Mr Collas.

As his drinking worsened, his parents enforced a rule for him not to drink at home or come home drunk.

That night he broke it.

At 6am, he woke his parents by playing loud music in his bedroom. His father went to him and asked him to turn it down, which he did willingly, but it was clear that he was drunk, said Crown Advocate Graeme McKerrell, prosecuting.

Soon after, he went to his parents’ bedroom and asked if they wanting anything from the shop. He left the house and returned half an hour later with a litre of vodka.

His mum caught him with the bottle in the kitchen and gave him the ultimatum that either it went or he did.

Rowe insisted that the vodka was not a problem.

His father heard the confrontation from the bathroom and went to help.

‘At this stage, he said his son was calm,’ said Advocate McKerrell.

The defendant had concealed the bottle in his jacket but his mother explained this and his father seized it and held it against his chest.

The court heard Rowe’s mood then changed to rage.

He went to grab the bottle back and the two struggled.

‘Neither parent felt at any point that he intended to harm them with the knife,’ said Advocate McKerrell.

Advocate Sarah Brehaut, defending, later said her client took the knife only to harm himself.

Eventually, Rowe’s father was able to get into the hallway where he telephoned the police.

His son did not stop him, but tried to make him go for a drive afterwards to talk things through.

After he refused, Rowe left through the front door.

A police patrol car arrived when he was still in the drive.

As the two officers got out to apprehend him, the defendant revealed the knife from his sleeve and held it raised in his right hand.

PC Roger Brown tackled Rowe and the two were involved in a brief scuffle before he dropped the knife. The second officer came to help restrain him and he was handcuffed and taken into custody.

When interviewed later, Rowe admitted having a hazy recollection of the incident.