Dad who was stabbed 12 times by son left so scared he slept with knife under pillow

Jack Tyler's father was left critically injured and requiring emergency surgery after being repeatedly knifed in the chest, torso and legs

A dad was left so scared of his own son that he slept with a kitchen knife under his pillow before being stabbed 12 times. Jack Tyler repeatedly knifed his father in the chest, torso and legs at the family home on Cobham Road in Moreton, Wirral, leaving him critically injured and requiring emergency surgery.

His mum also suffered black eyes and "unbearable hurt", having been headbutted during the "truly shocking" melee. The incident erupted after his parents intervened during a row between him and his girlfriend in the early hours.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that Tyler's relationship with his family had "broken down" prior to the events of December 7 last year due to his "deteriorating mental health", which was "exacerbated by his persistent use of cannabis and cocaine". Previous episodes of violence had meanwhile left his dad Joseph Tyler "fearing for his safety" and "fearing that his son would kill him" to such an extent that the 65-year-old had "taken to sleeping with a kitchen knife under his pillow".

David Birrell, prosecuting, described how the 30-year-old defendant was in his bedroom with his girlfriend at around 5am on the morning in question when his mother and father were awoken by a row involving the couple. Tyler, who was suspected to have been under the influence of drugs at the time, then "turned upon his parents" when they attempted to intervene.

This saw him punch his mum Patricia Tyler, also aged in her 60s, to the face, leaving her in "blinding pain". He then began fighting with his dad, a scuffle which continued in his parents' room.

Tyler would subsequently claim that his dad had produced a knife during the course of this violence episode before placing the weapon into the pocket of his jeans. However, the son was then said to have taken hold of the blade and repeatedly stabbed his father.

He thereafter went on to resume his assault upon Mrs Tyler by headbutting her to the nose in the living room, causing her to fall onto a sofa. She would later find her husband lying on the floor of their bedroom in a pool of blood after hearing him shouting: "He's stabbed me."

Having been rushed to hospital, doctors discovered that he had been stabbed a total of 12 times to the chest, right armpit, left-hand flank and left thigh. One of three wounds to his leg caused a laceration to his artery, leading to an emergency operation.

Mr Tyler, who also sustained a fractured rib during the incident, spent a day in a critical care unit, followed by a fortnight on a major trauma ward. He was then transferred to a psychiatric facility after his "mental health severely deteriorated".

In a statement which was read out to the court on his behalf, he detailed how he was left constantly suffering from falls and with "incredible difficulty" in carrying out basis tasks such as dressing himself. He remains under the care of a heart specialist due to the stab wound to his chest.

Mr Tyler labelled himself "mentally broken" following the assault, now being unable to walk the dog or enjoy hobbies such as sailing. He also stated: "I'm left wondering how I can carry on with life at all."

Mrs Tyler, who suffered "painful black eyes and frequent vomiting" during the incident, was meanwhile was left "struggling to process events" and suffering from flashbacks while "fearing for her husband's safety". She added: "I can only describe this hurt as unbearable. I think Jack needs help but he needs to want to help himself, and that’s the issue."

Having initially fled the scene following the assault, Tyler was arrested at Arrowe Park Hospital at around 6pm the same day. He has a total of 23 previous convictions for 36 offences, including two separate incidences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm as a youth in 2010 and an appearance for possession of a bladed article in a public place in 2018.

Simon Christie, defending, told the court that his client had also suffered defensive knife injuries and had even vomited due to the severity of the violence which had been inflicted on him. He added: "Plainly, this is an extremely serious incident and the injures are, of course, serious.

"In my submission, the court can draw back from finding him dangerous. A significant sentence of imprisonment must follow, but it ought to be a determinate sentence in all of the circumstances."

Tyler admitted wounding with intent against his dad and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his mum. An earlier charge of attempted murder was previously dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a blue Montirex tracksuit, he was jailed for six years. Tyler, who was also handed a six-year restraining order, will be required to serve at least two thirds of this sentence behind bars before becoming eligible for release.

Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: "On the 7th of December 2024, whether you were under the influence of drugs or not, it appears that you were in a highly volatile state, and your conduct towards your parents was truly shocking. You punched your mother in the face and went on to headbutt her.

"You repeatedly stabbed your father with a knife. It is important to bear in mind the context. Your relationship with your father, it appears, deteriorated over a period of time. It got to the point where he was so worried for his safety that he started to sleep with a knife under his pillow.

"You accept that your actions went beyond what was proportionate self defence. There were 12 stab wounds. Some of those were very serious indeed. They required emergency surgery to the leg. I am persuaded that these injuries are particularly grave and that there is a permanent psychological condition which has had substantial long term effects on his ability to carry out every day activities.

"There are aggravating features. There is the attack on your mother to take into account. There is your previous convictions. You have 23 convictions for 36 offences including for violence, although some of these are now historic. You do have mitigation. I accept that you have had some childhood trauma. You do have some mental health challenges."