Reading Crown Court: Former Thatcham bar manager guilty in Tilehurst stabbing

A FORMER bar manager is behind bars today after being convicted for his part in a stabbing outside a pub.

Thirty-eight-year-old Andrew Parker, who used to run The Old Chequers in The Broadway, Thatcham, and his brother Daniel, of no fixed address, had both denied assault causing grievous bodily harm, while Daniel Parker denied possessing a knife.

Both were arrested following an horrific stabbing outside The Victoria pub in Norcot Road, Tilehurst on Saturday, February 12.

Daniel Parker was acquitted of both charges following a six day trial at Reading Crown Court.

But Andrew Parker was convicted and has been remanded in custody to await sentence.

Laura Blackwood, prosecuting, told jurors that Andrew Parker, of The Broadway, Thatcham, had been involved in a long-standing quarrel over a car with former friend Shane O'Connor.

On the day in question, the court heard, the pair had argued in Tilehurst and CCTV footage showed Mr O'Connor knocking Andrew Parker to the ground.

Andrew Parker drove away and later, two masked men approached Mr O'Connor outside The Victoria pub, in which they had both earlier been.

Mr O'Connor claimed he was attacked by Andrew Parker before being stabbed in the back by Daniel Parker, having recognised them despite their masks.

The prosecution claimed Daniel Parker was recruited by his brother who "actively assisted and encouraged Daniel's actions."

But Jonathan Coode, defending Daniel Parker, said his client was not even present during the attack but had been with a friend.

Any suggestion that Daniel Parker was the masked knifeman had simply been "dreamed up," he asserted.

Nadia Chbat, defending Andrew Parker, acknowledged her client had been present and had refused to identify the other man.

But she urged jurors not to hold that against him.

She said: "Andrew failed to say who the second man is with him.

"Don’t hold it against him that he does not want to grass them up.

"He has not told me; I'm in the same boat as you.

"It could be fear for all we know."

Judge Hassan Khan told jurors: "The Crown say this was a revenge attack perpetrated by (the defendants).

"They say Daniel was the stabber after being recruited by his brother Andrew following an attack on him 13 minutes earlier.

"Daniel says he was not present...Andrew accepts he was present but is not prepared to say who the masked man in the jacket was.

"He says he had no idea the man had a knife or that a knife would be used and was only there for a punch-up."

Jurors were sent out to deliberate on Tuesday, October 18, and returned with verdicts the following day.

Daniel Parker walked from the dock after he was cleared of any involvement.

But Andrew Parker was convicted, refused bail and was sent into custody while pre-sentence reports are prepared.

He is due to be sentenced next month.