The son of a Suffolk woman who was allegedly murdered has been jailed for assaulting a man shortly before his mother’s death.

Karl Roberts, 27, was arrested after assaulting a man in at a flat in Petch Close, Bury St Edmunds, on March 20 and his 50-year-old mother Mary’s body was found in a car park off Risbygate Street, Bury, a week later.

Roberts of St George’s Road, Stowlangtoft, and Darren Long, 30 of Petch Close, Bury, admitted assaulting Michael Burlingham.

Roberts was jailed for 10 months and Long was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Sentencing the men, Recorder Patricia Lynch QC said: “This was a very unpleasant assault. I cannot overlook the fact that there was an element of pre-planning. You were looking for trouble,” she said.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Burlingham had opened his flat door after hearing a noise on the landing and had been confronted by Roberts and Long.

They told Mr Burlingham they were looking for a man who had been involved in a fight a few days earlier and when he said the man was staying somewhere else he had been assaulted by the two defendants.

He was dragged down the hall and Roberts had scratched his eye and tried to bite his arm while Long had hit him several times with a wrench, said Miss Tucker.

As a result of the attack Mr Burlingham suffered a cut above his ear and other minor injuries.

Jacob Edwards, for Roberts, said that shortly after his client’s arrest for the assault his mother had been the victim of an alleged murder and he had been refused permission to attend her funeral.

“He was extremely close to his mother and has already paid a significant price for his behaviour,” Mr Edwards said.

Hugh Vass, for Long, said his client had struck Mr Burlingham on the back with the spanner and had not intended to injure him.

“It wasn’t premeditated,” said Mr Vass.

A 56-year-old Ipswich man has been charged with the murder of Ms Roberts.