Family's 'life sentence' after attack on Alan Willson in Worthing

Annie Willson, 51, described the “torture” her husband Alan endures after the attack on April 4 last year which left him unable to speak, write or read.

The 47-year-old's injuries include being blind in one eye, a shattered orbital bone, fractured skull, brain injuries, broken ribs and shattered jaw after being hit repeatedly with the 2.7kg log in Longcroft Park, Worthing.

Speaking to The Argus earlier this month, Annie said: “Having Alan not able to speak at all, not be able to write at all, it’s really sad. It’s torture.

"Our adult social worker said to us it’s the ultimate form of torture because he knows what he wants to say, he just can’t say it."

Annie Willson and husband Alan this summer (Image: Newsquest)

Brothers Archie, 14, and George Tilley, 16, were sentenced to 12 years in prison for the attack, which left Mr Willson with permanent brain damage.

Harry Furlong, from Horsham, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for grievous bodily harm without intent on June 30.

The Argus revealed that Furlong, 18, was released from prison on Friday, September 16, on home detention curfew just 78 days after he was sentenced. He served 126 days in total, including on remand in custody.

Annie said: “We have been given a life sentence, they haven’t. When they told me Harry was coming out, my immediate reaction was ‘is that all my husband’s previous life was worth?’

“There is no help and no protecting the victims."

Before the attack, Mr Willson was described as a loving dad who "would do all the playing" with their children. He was also said to be a keen snowboarder.

Annie added: "Sussex Police have been amazing to us but still, we’re the ones who had to move house, we had to deal with the thought of what if someone came knocking at our door.

“The boys were bailed to Brighton, so we couldn’t go anywhere near the city.

“There isn’t much outlook for Alan, he is how he is now. He can’t speak, he struggles to swallow. I worry that I will wake up one day and he will have died next to me.

Alan Willson before the attack

“If he puts his head back, he can’t swallow.

“They’ve ruined everything.

“The forensic pathologist said she had never seen someone with their head so badly damaged and live.”

Harry Furlong, left. Right is brothers Archie, behind, and George (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Prisoners serving a sentence of at least 12 weeks but fewer than four years can be considered for release before their automatic release date under the home detention curfew scheme.

Mrs Willson said she “wanted to ask Harry Furlong why” while he was still in prison.

Mr and Mrs Willson both worked as carers before the attack, but she now cares for her husband full time.

She said: “I have nothing now, no family holidays. I try to bring him out to Costa, but he gets tired. We used to come here all the time together.

“I think he has his thoughts, he loves music. Absolutely loves it. But he is just broken and it angers me that no one in this world can fix that.”