East Malling, England – A man in East Malling has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for violently attacking a woman with garden shears. The incident, which occurred in September 2024, left the victim with deep lacerations to her head.
The attacker, Alan Brook, assaulted the victim after a dispute over a phone. He initially shot a catapult at her head before grabbing a pair of shears and striking her multiple times. The victim managed to escape to a neighbor’s property, but Brook followed her and took the phone from the neighbor before fleeing the scene.
Police officers tracked Brook to a relative’s address in Snodland, where he was found hiding in the toilet. The victim was taken to the hospital with multiple injuries. At Maidstone Crown Court, Brook pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A charge of robbery related to the phone was set aside by the court.
Detective Sergeant Mark Giles described the attack as senseless and unprovoked, expressing relief that Brook was sentenced. He highlighted the severity of the victim’s injuries, noting that Brook had a history of violent offenses and lacked remorse.
As part of his sentence, Brook was also issued a ten-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim upon his release from prison. The court’s decision aims to ensure the victim’s safety and well-being moving forward.