A CARER who dragged his elderly mother to the ground, kicked her and held a fire poker aloft as if to strike her told police he 'snapped'.

Robert McAlpine had been caring for his mother Christine for 17 years before the incident on August 3 this year.

The 57-year-old, of Sandringham Road in Poole, has no previous convictions, a judge sitting at Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

James Kellam, prosecuting, said Mrs McAlpine is now 90 years old.

"She has problems and difficulties - this became frustrating to Mr McAlpine," the barrister said.

On the day of the attack, Mrs McAlpine suggested her son visit someone who is no longer alive, the court heard.

"That made him lose his temper," Mr Kellam said.

"He pulled her from her chair to the ground and kicked her to the lower arm, causing extreme bruising.

"He took hold of a poker [and] raised it as if to strike her, in fact striking her chair."

Immediately afterwards, the defendant called 999 for police. When officers arrived, he told them: "She's a button-pusher and I tell you what, I'm glad I did it.

"Sometimes you just snap, you know."

In a later interview, he said he had lifted the poker "to brain her" with it, but didn't go through with the action, hitting the chair instead.

He admitted a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Tom Evans, mitigating, called the case "melancholy" and said McAlpine has a "hitherto unblemished record".

"He has cared for his mother and late father," Mr Evans said.

"[It has been] increasingly difficult to provide care.

"That does not excuse his actions, but provides some context."

The barrister said McAlpine, who wept throughout the hearing on Friday, September 1, was "full and frank" with police.

Judge Adam Feest heard prosecutors had considered making McAlpine the subject of a restraining order. However, Mrs McAlpine does not back such an order and it was considered "unenforceable".

The judge told the defendant: "For the past 17 years or so you have been caring firstly for both your parents, and in latter years, for your mother, who is now 90.

"I have no doubt at times, particularly bearing in mind her difficulties, that task has been a trying one.

"On August 3, you allowed those difficulties to boil over and you lost your temper in a very serious way."

Mrs McAlpine still requires "significant care", the judge said.

"If I were to send you to prison, it would punish you but it would also cause significant difficulties to your victim, your mother," he added.

McAlpine was instead sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 12 months. He must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

"The course I have taken today is very much driven by [the victim's] wishes," Judge Feest said.