A shocking wedding day incident unfolded when a sister-in-law threw black paint at the bride just moments before she was due to walk down the aisle. Antonia Eastwood, 49, targeted Gemma Monk's white gown, causing significant damage. Despite the chaos, the ceremony proceeded after the bride changed into a different outfit.
Attack Details
The attack took place in May 2024 at Oakwood House, where Gemma was about to marry her childhood sweetheart, Ken Monk. Eastwood, who is married to Gemma's brother Ashley, threw the paint, which she claimed was coincidentally in her car from creating handprints and footprints for her new granddaughter. The paint hit the back of Gemma's £1,800 dress, leaving it ruined.
Legal Consequences
Eastwood was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for two counts of criminal damage. She received a 10-month jail term suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay costs. The court heard that the damage and loss of revenue at the venue amounted to at least £5,000.
Motivation and Aftermath
Eastwood claimed the act was a spur-of-the-moment revenge for an incident at her own wedding in 2023, where she alleged Gemma had her foot in the aisle as she walked past. This led to a family feud, resulting in Ashley and Antonia not being invited to Gemma's wedding. Speaking after sentencing, Eastwood expressed shame and said she had never been in trouble with the police before. Gemma, in a victim impact statement, described the incident as turning the most special day of her life into a terrible memory, causing her significant emotional distress.
