East Malling, England — A brutal attack involving garden shears has resulted in a prison sentence for a man from East Malling after he assaulted a woman amidst a quarrel concerning a mobile phone. The incident, which occurred on September 14 last year, left the victim with severe injuries.
Alan Brook, 49, was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following the altercation at the victim’s residence, where she had been caring for his dog. Brook attempted to seize the woman’s phone, escalating the situation by firing a catapult at her, which she narrowly avoided.
As the confrontation intensified, the woman fled her home, but Brook pursued her wielding garden shears. In a violent spree, he struck her multiple times on the head with the shears. The assault continued until the woman managed to escape to a nearby neighbor’s house seeking help, only for Brook to follow and forcefully take the phone before fleeing the scene.
After the attack, Brook changed clothes at a nearby location and subsequently took refuge at a relative’s home in Snodland. Law enforcement successfully apprehended him hiding in a toilet at the residence.
The victim sustained significant injuries and was promptly hospitalized. Her recovery involved treating multiple deep lacerations and contusions sustained during the ordeal.
The case concluded at Maidstone Crown Court where Brook faced justice. Apart from his guilty plea to the charges of wounding with intent, an additional robbery charge linked to the altercation over the phone was placed on file by the court.
On April 16, Brook received a sentence of four years and six months in prison. Furthermore, the court issued a ten-year restraining order to protect the victim, prohibiting any form of contact post-release.
“This was a senseless and entirely unprovoked attack,” stated Detective Sergeant Mark Giles. He remarked on the severity of the assault, noting that the victim’s injuries were grave enough to be potentially fatal. Giles also highlighted Brook’s prior record of violence and apparent lack of remorse following the incident.
The authorities and the community hope that the sentence will bring some measure of comfort and closure to the victim, allowing her to move forward in her recovery with an assurance of safety from further harm.
The incident has raised concerns regarding domestic violence and the availability of resources for victims in East Malling. Community leaders are now calling for increased support and awareness programs to help prevent such violent crimes in the future.