Thug who brutally murdered mum & made twisted call to grandmother after sick attack jailed for life

A MURDERER who brutally beat his mum to death and then made a sick phone call to his grandmother has been jailed for life.

Stephen Ball was today sentenced to life imprisonment after he savagely murdered his own mother on September 16 last year in a violent drug induced attack.

The then 32-year-old launched a sustained attack on Suzanne Galvin at around 8pm and then frantically phoned his grandmother.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the murderer callously lied and told her he found Suzanne with broken wrists, visibly bruised and struggling to breathe.

He said his mum had refused to go to hospital, and claimed she would go the next day.

But, when he was asked to hold the phone up to her mouth, his grandmother could hear her daughter's irregular breathing.

When she begged him to phone an ambulance, he said he couldn't because there wasn't enough credit on his phone.

His grandmother phoned 999 herself, and emergency services found her unresponsive on a blood stained mattress.

She tragically died just two days later on Monday, September 18.

Greater Manchester Police had also been called to reports of Ball shouting outside Suzanne's flat to be let in at around 8pm.

He was in the flat when paramedics discovered Suzanne and he gave conflicting accounts of how his mother was extensively injured.

Ball was charged with her murder two days after she passed away in hospital.

The defendant was initially arrested on suspicion of assault the evening the horror unfolded.

Investigators found that tread patterns from his trainers matched marks on Suzanne's body.

Ball, of Pear Avenue, was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years for the murder of his mother.

Senior Investigating Officer, Duncan Thorpe said: “Firstly, our thoughts and prayers remain with Mary, Suzanne’s mum and Stephen’s grandmother, who has lost her daughter in the most terrible of circumstances.

"This was a drug induced violent and sustained assault on a lady who was completely innocent.

"Whatever sentence was imposed today, sadly it will not bring Suzanne back.

“Violence against women and girls remains a priority for GMP and we will do everything in our power to ensure those who commit these offences are identified, charged and brought to justice.

“If you or someone you know has been the victim of assault, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

"You will be believed and we will investigate every complaint.”