Reading Crown Court: Thatcham publican jailed for Tilehurst revenge stabbing

A TOWN centre publican has been jailed for his part in a revenge stabbing.

The knife attack victim suffered partial collapse of both lungs and is scarred for life, Reading Crown Court heard.

In the dock for sentencing on Thursday, February 2, was Andrew Parker, who used to run The Old Chequers in The Broadway, Thatcham.

He and his brother Daniel, of no fixed address, were arrested following an horrific stabbing outside The Victoria pub in Norcot Road, Tilehurst, on February 12 last year.

Daniel Parker was cleared of being the masked knifeman in the attack on Shane O'Connor following a row over a car deal.

But Andrew Parker was convicted of recruiting the mystery man to avenge him after Mr O'Connor had punched him to the ground earlier that day.

Mr O'Connor was stabbed twice, deep wounds leading to the partial collapse of his lower lungs; he suffers ongoing pain and his torso will be permanently scarred, the court heard.

He was unable to work for two months and consequently racked up debts, the judge was told.

Andrew Parker meanwhile has been in custody since his conviction following the six day trial last October.

Jonathan Coode, defending, said his client had been provoked by Mr O'Connor, who had punched him and who, upon being told that Parker had buried his grandfather that same day, had responded: "F*** off."

Nevertheless, he added, "Mr Parker deeply regrets what happened."

Mr Coode handed the judge character references which, he said, demonstrated his client was "regarded in the community as trustworthy, committed, hard working, reliable, honest and of good character".

He went on: "He worked as a publican and has raised money for charity.

"He is described as a sensitive, genuine person; a thoroughly respectable father and uncle who has been teaching other inmates to read and write."

Mr Coode stressed his client was deeply sorry for what happened and had no foreknowledge that his accomplice would bring a knife to the fight.

But Judge Hassan Khan told Parker: "The fact is that it was you who orchestrated this revenge attack.

"You were assaulted in The Butchers pub; within minutes you telephoned and recruited the man who stabbed Mr O'Connor.

"This man pulled out a knife...you fully participated, encouraging him and throwing punches while the knife was in play."

If anything, said Judge Khan, Parker was more culpable than the actual knifeman, because he had planned and orchestrated the revenge attack and had encouraged his accomplice when the knife was produced.

He sentenced Parker to six years imprisonment.

The time Parker has spent in custody awaiting sentence will be deducted from that and he will serve a maximum of four years behind bars before being released into the community on licence.

No order was made for costs but Parker, whose extended family attended the sentencing hearing, but will be required to pay a statutory victim services surcharge.