26-Year-Old Man Chases Terrified Mother and Her 6-Year-Old Daughter Down the Street With a Machete Before Doing Something That Left a Neighbour and Her Children Terrified
A 26-year-old man has been jailed after chasing a terrified mother and her six-year-old daughter down a street with a machete before trying to force his way into a neighbour’s home.
Kadeem Hodgson, from Longridge Avenue in St Helens, caused panic when he chased Lauren Parr and her young daughter as they desperately tried to escape from him.
The frightening incident happened on Sutton Heath Road in St Helens at around 4.45pm on September 10.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the trouble started when Ms Parr’s son returned home and told her that Hodgson was chasing him. The court was told that there had been an earlier disagreement between the two men.
Fearing for her family’s safety, Ms Parr quickly left her house with her six-year-old daughter. Both were still wearing their pyjamas, and the little girl had no shoes on.
As they ran down the street, Ms Parr noticed Hodgson following them. He made a movement towards his waistband, where he was carrying a machete.
CCTV footage played in court showed the frightened mother running into a neighbour’s front garden while carrying her daughter.
She put the little girl down on the grass and shouted for help.
Her neighbour, Siana Beech, immediately came to their rescue. She picked up the screaming child and rushed her into the house.
However, the danger was far from over.
Seconds later, Hodgson entered the garden and charged towards the front door. He began banging on it and trying to force his way inside.
Ms Beech was left fighting to keep the door closed while holding her own one-year-old daughter.
The situation became even more terrifying when Hodgson started attacking the door with his machete.
According to evidence presented in court, the blade came through the door and passed just 10 centimetres from Ms Beech’s head.
She later explained that she genuinely believed Hodgson would break into the house and seriously injure or kill her, her children or her partner.
Ms Beech said Hodgson had blood on his face when she saw him outside her home.
She described how he kicked the door and repeatedly tried to push the machete through an opening while she struggled to keep him out.
At one point, the blade came dangerously close to her head.
She said she could not stop thinking about what might have happened if the door had opened.
The attack eventually came to an end when Hodgson gave up trying to enter the property and ran away as other neighbours came outside after hearing the disturbance.
Although the incident lasted only a short time, the emotional impact on the family has continued.
In a statement read to the court, Ms Beech explained that she no longer feels safe in her own home.
She said she constantly worries about another attack and becomes frightened whenever she hears an unexpected noise.
Her children have also been affected by what happened.
According to Ms Beech, they have started behaving differently and sometimes become upset because they fear the man might return.
She said hearing her children talk about the frightening experience has been heartbreaking.
The mother explained that one of the hardest things to deal with is the thought that she might not have been able to protect her children if Hodgson had managed to get inside.
She said the damaged door could be repaired, but the fear and memories left behind would take much longer to overcome.
Ms Beech told the court that she simply wants to feel safe again and wants her children to feel safe in their home.
Hodgson later admitted three offences, including possession of a bladed article, affray and criminal damage.
The court also heard that he had a long history of offending despite being only 26 years old.
He had 23 previous convictions involving 33 offences, including carrying a knife, wounding, affray and threatening someone with a weapon.
His previous prison sentences included 17 months in 2020 for threatening someone with a blade and another sentence of 28 months.
During the sentencing hearing on November 4, his lawyer, Sarah Griffin, told the court that Hodgson understood how serious his actions had been.
She said he was sorry for what happened and regretted that his problems with other people had put innocent families in danger.
His lawyer also explained that he had completed a course designed to help him think more carefully about his actions and understand how his behaviour affects others.
However, Judge Simon Medland made it clear that Hodgson’s behaviour was completely unacceptable.
The judge described him as someone behaving like a “minor league gangster” and warned that he was wasting his future by repeatedly getting involved in crime.
He reminded Hodgson that he was still young enough to change his life but warned that continuing down the same path would lead to longer prison sentences.
The judge questioned whether Hodgson wanted to spend more years behind bars or finally make something useful of his life.
He also pointed out that previous prison sentences had clearly failed to stop him from committing further offences.
Speaking about the latest attack, Judge Medland said Hodgson had chased a defenceless and screaming woman who was carrying a little girl.
He said the mother had been terrified and that Hodgson was responsible for putting her through such a frightening experience.
The judge described his actions as appalling.
Hodgson was sentenced to 31 months in prison for possessing a bladed article.
He also received 21 months for affray and one month for criminal damage. Those sentences will run at the same time, meaning his total prison sentence is 31 months.
The case has highlighted the lasting damage that violent incidents can cause to innocent families.
For Ms Beech and her children, the frightening memories have not disappeared simply because the attacker has been sent to prison.
What began as an ordinary afternoon at home turned into a terrifying experience that has left the family struggling to feel safe in the place where they should feel most protected.
