A MUM who destroyed evidence as her 15-year-old son was being investigated for attempted murder has walked from court.

Hayley Upfold washed the blood stained clothes the teenager knifeman and his mates after he came home and told he had stabbed someone.

And when the 30-year-old was spoken to by the police she insisted Lewis Light, who has a 'pathalogical use of violence' had been at home on his PlayStation all evening.

But after hearing she is the sole carer for her two daughters and was capable of doing unpaid work Judge Tim Mousley QC imposed a suspended sentence.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Light, who routinely carried a knife, had repeatedly stabbed a man at Wharf Green in January.

After plunging the blade into his victim's body seven times, leaving him close to death, he went home with a number of friends involved in the incident.

Miss Squire said one of the young lads later told police what happened when they got to the house.

"He says it was clear to Hayley Upfold when that gang, or group, got back that something very severe had taken place," she said.

"Lewis Light had blood on him. Others in the group had blood on them. He overheard the conversation by Lewis Light with his mother where he told her that he had stabbed somebody.

"What she decided to do then forms the perverting the course of justice. She washed the clothes of all of those who attended that address.

"When the police attended at about 1am they found the washing machine full of the clothing of the youths.

"Not only were all the clothes washed but they were all kitted out in various different outfits."

During the evening a number of friends of the victim went to her house causing trouble, leading to the police being called.

"She then wrote a statement to the police about what she knew had happened," Miss Squire said.

"She effectively said Lewis had been in all night on the PlayStation, then this group arrived later in the evening."

Upfold, of Barnum Court, Rodbourne, admitted perverting the course of justice.

Clare Fear, defending, said she reacted 'through panic and motherly instinct' as opposed to giving a false alibi and lying to police.

"It was with a lack of thought as to the consequences and a lack of thought beyond trying to protect her son," she said.

"Mercifully her actions had no affect in the arrest and prosecution of her son. Her son is now serving a sentence and you may feel she has suffered to that extent, that her son has lost his liberty for a period of time."

Upfold sobbed in the dock as she said she was the carer for daughters aged eight and 13 who, though they would be looked after by their gran if she were jailed, would suffer the loss of their mother.

Passing sentence the judge said "These offences are inevitably looked at very seriously by the courts because this type of behaviour has to potential to undermine the criminal justice system, and the more serious the offence you were seeking to cover up, in a way, the more serious offence that you commit.

"You are 30. You have no previous convictions. I take that in to account. I take in to account what is said in the pre-sentence report.

"At the time of this offence you were a hard working mother. You had to give that up. I bear in mind very much that you are the sole carer for your two younger children."

He imposed an 18-month jail term suspended for two years with 250 hours of unpaid work.

Light was jailed for four-and-a-half years in August after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent after the attempted murder charge was dropped.

He was in a gang of up to 25, some of whom were armed, when he stabbed his victim causing massive loss of blood as well as a punctured lung, lacerated liver, and cracked vertebra.

Jailing him, and allowing him to be named, Recorder Richard Davison said: "You have shown little or no remorse for what you did.

"These offences were premeditated, you committed them to gain or maintain kudos, or notoriety.

"You said you would continue to fight anyone who challenges you. You appear to derive pleasure from violence."

Three teenagers, a girl aged 15 and two boys aged 14, were put on nine-month referral orders at the youth court after admitting violent disorder.