Moment a champion darts player battered his neighbour with a brick after he complained about his wife’s car headlights shining into his living room
- Watch the moment a champion darts player batters his neighbour with a brick
- Paul Cook, 65, had a dispute over parking with pensioner Stephen Leonard
- Swindon Magistrates Court heard the two had ‘ongoing issues’ before the attack
- Cook is the winner of News of the World Championship and the Plymouth Open
This is the moment a champion darts player battered his neighbour with a brick – in an ongoing feud over parking. Paul ‘Cookie’ Cook, 65, injured pensioner Stephen Leonard outside his home during a long running row
This is the moment a champion darts player battered his neighbour with a brick – in an ongoing feud over parking.
Paul ‘Cookie’ Cook, 65, injured pensioner Stephen Leonard outside his home during a long running row.
Cook has played darts across the world including Las Vegas and appeared in The World Match Play and World Championship Qualifiers.
But Cook and his neighbour who he has known for 30 years had ‘ongoing issues’ ‘for a long time’, Swindon Magistrates Court heard.
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said that the defendant’s wife had reversed her car onto the driveway and kept her lights on.
The lights were shining into Mr Leonard’s living room – which is immediately opposite – and were dazzling him.
The video shows Cook swinging at the pensioner with a brick in his hand after an argument started because of Cook’s wife shinning her cars headlights through his window, he said
Cook and his neighbour who he has known for 30 years had ‘ongoing issues’ ‘for a long time”, Swindon Magistrates Court heard
His wife screamed ‘Paul, don’t do it’ before the victim fell to the floor, where Cook continued to punch him in the head
He ventured outside to speak to Cook’s wife about her car lights but Cook appeared and things turned heated.
The pair were shouting and swearing at each other during the dispute, which lasted a couple of minutes.
As the argument came to an end, the defendant returned to his driveway, picked up a grey paving brick and bashed it over his neighbour’s head – despite his wife screaming ‘Paul, don’t do it’.
The victim immediately fell to the floor, where Cook punched him in the head before being pulled to the ground by Mr Leonard, who in the end, was on top of the defendant.
As a result of the attack, Mr Leonard – who usually walks aided by a stick – suffered cuts and bruises to his head, eye, cheekbone and elbow.
Cook, who won the News of the World Championship in 1990 and the Plymouth Open in 2015, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at 6pm on October 22 last year.
He told officers that picked up the brick to place it on the wall, but – forgetting it was in his hand – struck Mr Leonard with it.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Leonard said he continues to experience pain in his cheek and he often wakes up in the night thinking about the assault.
He added: ‘I do feel intimidated by him, I’m worried it could happen again.
‘I’m scared he may come to the door and I feel unsafe on my own property. I’m very wary of him now because I know what he is capable of.’
Paul Cook outside Swindon Magistrates Court. Cook won the News of the World Championship in 1990 and the Plymouth Open in 2015
Liz Highams, defending, said her client has had ongoing issues and provocation from his neighbour – who he has known for 30 years – for a long time.
‘He’s reacted and he’s reacted badly’, Ms Highams said.
The court heard how Cook suffers from a heart condition and severe mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
Probation officer Michelle James said the defendant is not suitable for a some punitive elements – including unpaid work and a curfew – due to his illnesses, and recommended a Band D fine.
‘ABH is a serious offence, but we understand that there was an element of provocation’, the chief magistrate said as he imposed a £265 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £34 surcharge.
No compensation was awarded ‘due to the nature of the relationship’ between the pair, and no restraining order was made because it was ‘not practical’ in the circumstances.
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