A MAN who assaulted his mother by smashing her head against a van was told by a judge he should have been “looking after” her when he appeared in court.

A court heard how Daniel Harris, 20, had an altercation with his mother Dawn Harris in Tesco car park after the pair visited the supermarket in Barrow’s Cornerhouse Park to buy him a new mobile phone - only for her card not to work at the till.

Harris, of Anson Street, pleaded guilty to assault by beating when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that on April 27 the defendant became “stressed” and began beating his mother when they were not able to buy him the phone.

He had been seen in the store slapping his mother, the court heard.

A security guard at the supermarket, Lee Martin, called police to the scene.

The court was told the guard was called by a member of staff because man had slapped his mother.

He was then said to have seen the defendant bang his mother’s head on the van at least three times.

The court heard he got her around the neck. He was said to have been “stressed because he wanted to get that new phone and was upset by that”.

The guard told prosecutors what he saw was “shocking” and said Harris was abusive towards him when he tried to intervene.

Mrs Harris did not want to press charges against her son.

The court was told Harris, who has epilepsy and a form of cerebral palsy, lived in supported housing with full time one-to-one care.

In mitigation, solicitor Michael Graham said: “He is regretful about his actions.

“Afterwards he was upset about his behaviour and accepts what he did was wrong.”

Mr Graham said Harris had bought a bunch of flowers for his mum following the incident.

He was sentenced to a 36-hour attendance centre order to be educated about his behaviour.

District judge Gerald Chalk said: “You should look after her not treat her like a rag doll.”

Harris was told to pay £85 court cost and a an £85 victim surcharge.

Instead of ordering compensation to be paid to Mrs Harris, judge Chalk said: “I suspect what she really wants is for you to behave yourself.”