Southampton woman launched vicious attack on grandmother

Philippa Duplock ‘roared and rushed’ at her grandmother before thrashing her over the head with a commode.

The victim – aged 82 at the time – begged Duplock to stop but she did not relent, with the onslaught continuing for over an hour.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 42-year-old was ‘purple in the face’ with rage.

Philippa Duplock has been jailed for assaulting her grandmother (Image: Hampshire Police)

Prosecuting, Rob Harding said Duplock’s demeanour suddenly changed moments before the attack.

He said: “For a number of years the defendant had been living with the victim, her grandmother. The relationship was a close one and mutually beneficial for both.

“But on July 25 last year, the defendant repeatedly assaulted her grandmother.

“The victim begged her to stop. She found it difficult to breathe and thought she was going to die.”

He went on to tell the court how the victim was hit five or six times with the commode, and the victim also stamped on her legs.

There were significant wounds to the victim’s legs, with ‘her tendons and fats showing’.

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Duplock convinced her grandmother to lie to the emergency services about what happened, encouraging her to say she fell from her wheelchair.

But upon arrival, paramedics noted the large amount of blood on the wall and ceiling.

The ferocity of Duplock’s attack has left the victim with physical and emotional scars, Mr Harding said.

Reading out her victim impact statement, he said: “Her actions irrevocably changed my life.

“Nurses are still coming to change the dressings on my wounds more than six months after she attacked me.

“There is a large amount of muscle and flesh missing from my legs.

“I am so confused about why this happened.

“This has now changed how I feel about the past and how I feel about Philippa.

“The attack was so horrific.”

But mitigating, Robin Leach said Duplock’s mental health played a part in the attack.

He said: “The defendant cared for her grandmother for a number of years.

“They never had a cross word so this was an extraordinary one-off incident.

“The defendant realises what she did was terrible and horrific.

“She is aware of the seriousness of what she did.”

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Duplock of Braeside Road, Southampton, admitted wounding with intent.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Henry citied concerns had about the danger Duplock poses.

He said: “You launched an unprovoked, vicious, and long attack upon her.

“Appalling injuries were suffered by this frail lady who trusted you.

“She thought she was going to die.”

Duplock was handed two years and eight months in prison and a seven year restraining order.