A 26-year-old man who held his mother prisoner for several hours in her own home as he viciously attacked her has been locked-up indefinitely.

Alan Whiteley will have to serve a minimum of three years before the parole board even considers his release.

A judge said there had been an escalating pattern of violence and Whiteley posed a significant risk of committing further offences.

Maidstone Crown Court heard in July how the young father head-butted and punched his mother Angela Buck, fracturing her cheekbone and eye socket.

He denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted. He admitted the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm and also false imprisonment.

Mrs Buck had on February 19 collected Whiteley from a bail hostel in Maidstone and driven to her home in James Street, Sheerness.

She took Whiteley and another son, Paul Abbott, to a nearby pub for drinks. They then returned to her house.

Whiteley was under a curfew to be back at the hostel by 11pm and went to catch a train at 9pm, But he missed it.

Whiteley asked his mother for the car keys to drive himself but she refused because he did not have a licence.

She offered to take him but Whiteley told her he didn’t want to be driven by a snail – and then suddenly head-butted her.

“I felt dazed, shocked,” she said. “He grabbed me by my throat and pinned me on the stairs. I couldn’t breathe.”

Mrs Buck wept as she told how her other son tried to call the police, but Whiteley grabbed his phone and smashed it. Whiteley pushed his brother outside and locked the door.

“I was getting punched in the head,” said the victim. “He was swearing and shouting at me, saying he was going to go down for a long time for this.

Armed police were called after receiving a report that Whitely had a gun.

“He said if I tried to get out he would kill me,” said Mrs Buck. “He opened the drawer and took out carving knives. He cut the back of my leg.”

In the bathroom, he poured hot water over her head and hit her with the shower attachment.

When police eventually forced their way in at about 5am, Whiteley had barricaded himself in a bedroom. He was then arrested.

Thomas Allen, for Whiteley, said the violence seemed to relate to difficult relationships with his family or wife.

“As a result of this incident, his family wish to have no contact with him,” he said. “His wife has made it clear she doesn’t wish to carry on the relationship.”

He also wanted to stay away from Sheppey and Sittingbourne when released.

“These are serious matters,” said Mr Allen. “Serious injuries were caused to his mother. The psychological harm to her can only be guessed at.”

Mr Allen submitted that a determinate sentence could be passed, adding that it had a substantial public protection element to it.

Judge Andrew Patience said it was worrying that Whiteley had previous convictions for arson, assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault.

“I am firmly of the view that particularly when in drink, you present a significant risk of committing further violent offences,” he said. “This is an appropriate case for a sentence for public protection.”

The judge said if he had been passing a determinate sentence, it would have been six years.

Under the public protection sentence, Whiteley would serve three years, less 12 days spent on remand.

“It is up to you to demonstrate by your behaviour then that you are safe to be released into the community,” said Judge Patience.

“When you are, don’t abuse alcohol and don’t abuse those with whom you form relationships.”