A MAN with serious mental health problems who poured boiling water over his elderly mother's face as she slept was given a suspended prison sentence on Friday.

Nigel Harris-Smith, 57, of Christie Miller Road, Salisbury, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for a year.

Salisbury Crown Court heard that in the early hours of March 21, 2013, Mrs Harris-Smith had awoken to find her son stood over the bed, pouring a kettle of boiling water on her.

She feared her son had not been taking his medication.

He then fled the house and was found lying on a grass verge by a taxi driver.

Harris-Smith had no previous convictions and his mother was anxious he was not prosecuted for the offence.

Defending, Michael Butt read a statement from Mrs Harris-Smith, 88, which read: “I'm fit and well. I have seen Nigel since the incident several times and he and I have got on well together. I'm completely healed. I have no pain or scars.”

Mr Butt said his client's problems were caused by failing to take his tablets and reassured the public that he was now having regular injections instead.

“Any failure in that regard will be sufficiently noticed and dealt with,” he said.

Sentencing Harris-Smith, Judge Barnet said the offence was a very serious one.

“In view of your great mental health problems - and they are problems, you have been diagnosed as schizophrenic and have been treated for many years - it seems to me the justice of the case cries out for me to suspend the sentence for 12 months.

“You must keep out of trouble for the next year.”

Judge Barnett added: “I make two very important requirements, for your benefit and for the benefit of society.”

He imposed a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month supervision order.

The judge described the offence as a “dreadful crime” and said: “I hope you will be able to rebuild your relationship with your mother who has shown an extremely forgiving nature.”