Garden shears used during violent attack on woman in East Malling
Alan Brook assaulted the victim following a dispute over a phone and left her suffering deep lacerations to her head
A man has been jailed after violently attacking a woman with garden shears in East Malling.
Alan Brook assaulted the victim following a dispute over a phone and left her suffering deep lacerations to her head.
Brook attended the victim’s home on 14 September 2024, as she had been looking after his dog. After trying to snatch a phone from the woman, he initially shot a catapult towards her head which missed.
When the victim ran from the house Brook grabbed a pair of shears from the garden and struck her head multiple times. The woman managed to reach a neighbour’s property, but Brook followed and after grabbing the phone from the neighbour then ran from the scene.
He travelled to a nearby location where he changed his clothes, before then making his way to a relative’s address in Snodland. Officers tracked Brook to this house and found him hiding in the toilet. The victim was taken to hospital with multiple injuries.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Brook, 49, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A further charge of robbery, in connection to the phone, was ordered by the court to lie on file.
On Wednesday 16 April, Brook, formerly of Temple Way, East Malling was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment. He was also made the subject of a ten-year restraining order, preventing contact with the victim when he is released from prison.
Detective Sergeant Mark Giles said: "This was a senseless and entirely unprovoked attack which left the victim suffering some appalling injuries. Brook tried to stab her in the head multiple times and could easily have killed her.
"He has a history of violent offending and has shown no indication of any remorse. I only hope the victim can take some comfort and reassurance now Brook has been sentenced."