A bride who had black paint thrown over her just seconds before walking down the aisle by her sister-in-law broke down in tears reliving the traumatic incident.
Attack on Wedding Day
Gemma Monk, 35, was ambushed by Antonia Eastwood just as she was arriving for her ceremony at Oakwood House in Maidstone, Kent. Footage of the incident showed Gemma's £1,800 white dress being stained with black paint moments after she got out of a Range Rover at the registry office.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Gemma said: 'She showed no remorse whatsoever. The only time she said sorry was through the barrister, not vocally to me.'
Gemma disputes Antonia's claim that it was a 'spur of the moment attack', as she knew where to go and where to hide next to an obscured 'bridal door'.
How It Unfolded
Gemma explained: 'I didn't know about this bridal door. So, how did they? Because they knew where I was entering, because they were waiting behind the wall. I'm standing looking away from the door, and then my name's being called, so I instantly thought that somebody had trod on my dress or – you know – on my veil. And then I turned, I was splashed.'
'I knew instantly who it was, because there's not many people I don't get on with, you know. I'm not a hated person, I've got a kind heart, I want best for people. I only want what's best for my brother as well, even to today.'
Family Feud Behind the Attack
The attack was the result of a family feud, in which Gemma was wrongly accused by her brother's wife of having ruined her big day in 2023. As well as wrecking the bridal dress, the paint caused more than £5,000 of damage to the Victorian venue.
Eastwood, 49, who is married to Gemma's older brother Ashley, insisted she did not know why she carried out the attack. She told the Daily Mail: 'I feel ashamed of myself. It's not me. I've never been in trouble with the police before. Ever. I had a full-blown panic attack on the day I was sentenced. I was petrified I'd go to prison. It has all taken its toll.'
Aftermath and Sentencing
Gemma managed to tie the knot to her husband Ken two hours later with the help of a replacement dress fetched by an usher. However, the couple were forced to abandon plans for a dream honeymoon in the Maldives. They have not celebrated their wedding anniversary as the date brings back traumatic memories, but plan to hold a new ceremony in the future to renew their vows.
In a victim impact statement read out at Maidstone Crown Court, Gemma said the attack had 'changed her outlook on life' and left her with a mental scar.
Eastwood's explanations were rejected by Judge Oliver Saxby KC, who described her actions as 'horrid, nasty and mean', concluding that she had set out to wreck Gemma's big day. He said: 'There is a lingering suspicion that even if you do trigger regret now, it's been a while coming, that deep-down for some time you thought she deserved it.'
Judge Saxby spared Eastwood jail time, citing her previous good character and a shortage of prison space in line with sentencing guidelines. Eastwood was given a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and a 10-year restraining order after pleading guilty to two charges of criminal damage. She was also ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work as well as pay £5,000 in damages, £4,000 to her sister-in-law and £1,000 to Oakwood House.
