CCTV captures moment sister-in-law throws paint over Kent bride
A mum-of-two whose wedding day was ruined by her sister-in-law, has had the CCTV of the moment released for all to see.
There's nothing cheap about getting married, and usually, the bride walks down the aisle wearing most of the budget.
For Gemma Monk, she ended up having to see the £1,800 gown 'absolutely loved' ruined by her sister-in-law Antonia Eastwood, who splashed her with black paint in 2024.
Married to her brother Ashley, Eastwood’s 'revenge' attack had caused a lasting impact on the bride, who claimed the mental health worker lay in wait for her.
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After the attack, apparently, she even boasted she was the 'best decorator around'.
Monk, who was just about to get hitched to her childhood love, Ken in May 2024 at Oakwood House in Maidstone, revealed the harrowing experience was part of a ‘revenge’ plat after Eastwood alleged she had previously tried to trip her up at her own wedding in 2023.
However, she denied this.
Monk claimed the paint incident happened at the Kent venue when Eastwood and her husband – who were not invited to attend the ceremony - ran at her and covered her, and her bridesmaids in the black paint.
Footage from the CPS shows the wedding party and bride arriving for the special day, when off-screen, something happens to Monk and her bridesmaids.
When they reappeared, Monk can be seen heavily covered in black, along with another bridesmaid.
Running from the scene, a man and woman - who have been named as Eastwood and her husband – end up in an altercation with the bridal party.
Later, Monk and her party are seen walking down the venue’s corridor, covered in paint.
Eastwood, who told the Daily Mail her cations were not ‘me’, narrowly avoided jail time after appearing at Maidstone Crown Court on charges of criminal damage.
She said: “I feel ashamed of myself. It’s not me. I’ve never been in trouble with the police before. Ever.”
Calling the incident a ‘spur of the moment’ event, she claimed the paint was in her car and was an impulsive decision.
Eastwood said: “I saw her [Monk] get out of her car – she was a few yards away. Then I just shouted to her and threw the paint. It hit the back of her dress.”
After the paint was thrown, Monk’s dad ended up crashing his car into the venue’s wall as he tried to hop out to help – accidentally reversing.
In the end, Eastwood was handed a 10-month prison sentence, which ended up being suspended for 12 months.
She was also ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, given a ten-year restraining order, and ordered to pay £4,000 to Monk and £1,000 to Oakwood House.
Britt Jones