Judy Constant was ‘betrayed’ by her son. Right: Darren Constant

A SON who beat his mother to death could be heard telling her how to explain away the injuries she was dying from.

Darren Constant, 39, was jailed for nine years and four months last week after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

His mother, Judy, 62, was found dead at her home in Marlborough Road, Holloway, in 2018.

The day before, officers had been called to the property to reports of an assault.

A post mortem found that the cause of her death was “blunt force trauma” and she had bruising all over her body.

There was a number of old and more recent injuries, police said.

Before she died an ambulance was called and the Old Bailey was told that Darren Constant could be heard telling his mother which excuses to give for the injuries.

His instructions were captured on body-worn video cameras by officers.

Ms Constant refused to go to hospital and continued to refuse despite medics believing she had suffered a brain bleed. The next day was when she was found dead.

Her family said in a statement after the sentencing: “Judy was a joyful person, very open, hardworking and honest. In her youthful days, she was the most vivacious amongst the siblings.

“She largely raised Darren on her own and provided everything he could wish for. He betrayed her love by both physically and mentally abusing her over many years, ultimately resulting in her death.”

The statement added: “No sentence, no matter the length will make amends for what he did to his own mother, the woman who gave him life only for him to cruelly take hers.

“Whilst he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, this comes after four years of denying any responsibility or accepting any blame.”

Darren Constant, who was living in Enfield, was also handed an indefinite restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim’s three surviving sisters and two of his former partners.

The family statement said: “As a family it has been a long journey to reach today’s outcome, we recall the day we learned of Judy’s death as though it were yesterday. She is deeply missed by us all. We would also like to thank both the police homicide team and barristers who worked so hard to bring justice for Judy.”

Detective Inspector Frank Copley said: “This was a shocking, tragic offence made all the more painful by the fact that Judy’s killer was her son.

“Her protective, maternal instincts had prevented her from reporting the violent abuse that she had clearly endured at his hands for some time. I believe it was those same instincts that stopped her from going to hospital for the treatment that may have saved her life.”

DI Copley added: “She was a well-liked lady and it is awful, truly awful, that her life ended in such a brutal way by the man she had raised and cared about so much.

“It is clear her family and friends will all miss her, and myself and the team continue to think of them.”

• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline provides confidential support and advice to women experiencing domestic abuse. Call their freephone line, open 24-hours a day on 0808 2000 247.