Man found guilty in pub stabbing ‘feud’

Former Thatcham bar manager was on trial for GBH at crown court

A FORMER bar manager has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm, following a stabbing outside a pub.

In the dock at Reading Crown Court were 38-year-old Andrew Parker, who used to run The Old Chequers in the Broadway, Thatcham, and his brother Daniel, of no fixed address.

Both denied assault causing grievous bodily harm, while Daniel Parker also denied possessing a knife. Daniel Parker was found not guilty of both charges.

Andrew Parker has now been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

Laura Blackwood, prosecuting, said the horrific incident took place outside The Victoria pub in Norcot Road, Tilehurst, on Saturday,

February 12.

She added 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 pub.

The prosecution had claimed Daniel Parker was recruited by his brother who “actively assisted and encouraged Daniel’s actions”.

Jonathan Coode, defending Daniel Parker, said his client was not even present during the attack, but was 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. They didn’t agree.

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 defendant].

“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, following the six-day trial and delivered their verdicts yesterday (Wednesday) lunchtime.

“Andrew accepts he was present but is not prepared to say who the masked man in the jacket was