A TEENAGER whose father died four months after an attack on Accrington bus station has said he finally has closure.
But he believes the teenage attacker, who punched the father-of-two, leaving him with severe brain injuries, should not have been spared jail.
Paul Dewhurst, 50, of Tarn Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors, was treated at various hospitals before his death on 1 November last year.
Medical evidence revealed that the assault by Scott Atheis had not directly killed Mr Dewhurst.
Atheis, 18, of Oakfield Avenue, Accrington, who pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, was given a 30-week suspended sentence together with an 18-month community order at Pres-ton Crown Court last week.
After the case, Mr Dewhurst’s son Callum, 19, of Clitheroe, said: "I don’t think it’s justice. I think he should be getting years but he’s only getting weeks and even that’s a suspended sentence.
"I was in court and he does regret what he did and realises that what he did was wrong. He was sobbing in court but I couldn’t look at him because I felt so much anger towards him. Nothing is going to change the fact that my dad has died."
The attack happened on 2 July 2007 and CCTV footage of the attack was shown in court.
Callum added: "Before the court case I wasn’t able to be myself and my younger brother is taking it really hard as well. I hadn’t had any closure and I couldn’t think straight. Now I have had some closure and I can try and move on with my life."
The 18-month community order involves Atheis completing 100 hours’ unpaid weekend work, wearing an electronic tag, a curfew between 8pm and 6am and attending an anger management course. He was also ordered to pay £653 costs.
