Eldest son of Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand avoids jail after breaking sister’s shoulder throughout a violent row at their mother and father’ dwelling

The eldest son of Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand has been spared jail after he left his sister with a broken shoulder during a violent row at their parents’ home.

Patrick Crerand Jr, 61, bundled over younger sister Lorraine and caused her to fall into a radiator, a court heard.

The incident took place when they began arguing after he spent the evening watching football on TV with the 86-year-old former Old Trafford favourite.

Lorraine, 58, fled the £879,000 property in Sale, Greater Manchester, not realising that she had suffered any injury.

However, the following day she found herself in ‘excruciating pain’, and after seeking medical treatment, she learnt that she had broken her clavicle, the court heard.

When confronted, Crerand Jr denied wrongdoing, telling one of her friends: ‘She fell over p****d – why are you believing an alcoholic for God’s sake?’

His sister subsequently went to police and told how the injury had left her unable to dress herself, clean her home, or care for their father and his wife Noreen, 85, without assistance from her daughter or a friend.

She further described being ‘fearful of returning to her parents’ home’ when her brother might be present. 

At Bolton Crown Court, Crerand Jr was issued with a 12-month restraining order after he pleaded guilty to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

It bans him from contacting his now-estranged sister or going near her address.

He had originally faced a year in jail under sentencing guidelines.

But Crerand Jr was given nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after a judge accepted he needed to continue his caring responsibilities for the Reds legend and his wife.

Glasgow-born Paddy Sr played at Old Trafford as a midfielder under Sir Matt Busby and helped win the English League title twice, the FA Cup, the FA Charity Shield twice and the European Cup. 

Renowned for his prolific goal-scoring partnership with George Best, the father-of-three also gained 16 international caps for Scotland.

Patrick Crerand Jr regular posts on social media about his father – calling him ‘The Number 1 red’.

Pictures of him on X also showed him posing with Eric Cantona and lifting the FA Cup with Wayne Rooney.

The court heard the assault on March 6 this year occurred when father and son had been at home watching Manchester United draw 1-1 in their UEFA Europa League match against Real Sociedad.

Prosecutor Alistair Reid said: ‘Lorraine Crerand acts as carer for her 85-year-old mother who is recovering from a broken hip. 

‘She had been at the address since 6pm and had made dinner for her parents. 

‘The defendant himself had been at the address watching football with his father.’

At about 10pm an argument ‘developed’ in the conservatory, Mr Reid said, with Ms Crerand making ‘comments’ about her brother’s partner, to which he responded ‘in abusive terms’.

The row ‘escalated’ with Ms Crerand asking her brother to leave the room. 

‘He then pushed the complainant, causing her to lose balance and fall against a radiator,’ the prosecutor said, hitting her head.

‘She got up and immediately ran to the front door, leaving the property to get away from her brother.’

Ms Crerand drove home, not realising she had sustained any injuries due to ‘adrenaline and shock’, the court heard.

‘However the following day she described the pain as “excruciating”, and bruising developed over her body that caused her to seek medical attention at hospital.’

On March 10 she was diagnosed with a fracture of the right clavicle and muscular damage. 

The following week, the court heard Ms Crerand was sent a screenshot of a Facebook message sent from an account in her brother’s name which read: ‘Just to let you know Diane I pushed Lorraine she fell over p****d, why are you believing an alcoholic for God’s sake.’

Crerand Jr was arrested and admitted to pushing his sister, but denied any further physical assault. 

‘He sought to attribute her injuries to intoxication and her own unsteadiness, suggesting she “fell over everywhere she goes”,’ Mr Reid said.

His sister told police her injuries caused a ‘significant impact on her daily functioning’, he added.

‘She said she had been unable to dress herself, clean her home, or care for her parents without assistance from her daughter or a friend. 

‘She further described being fearful of returning to her parents’ home when the defendant might be present.’

Crerand Jr, of Altrincham, has six previous offences on his record including a conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1986 for which he got 28 days’ jail, the court heard.

In mitigation, defence counsel Saul Brody said his client was ‘genuinely remorseful for his behaviour’.

‘This was an unpleasant incident but thankfully an isolated one and one that the defendant bitterly regrets,’ he added.

‘He accepts that the risk of injury was foreseeable but it was wholly unintended.’

In addition to imposing a suspended prison sentence, Judge Jon Close ordered Crerand Jr to abide by an eight-week overnight curfew and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

He accepted there was ‘a complex and very difficult family background’ linked to their parents’ health issues which had caused the siblings ‘immense distress’.

But criticising Crerand Jr for ‘victim-blaming’ in a pre-sentence report, the judge told him: ‘There is no justification for you to lay your hands on anyone.’