Former Countdown champion jailed for 30 months

[dutchman]

Richard Brittain smashed a bottle of wine into Paige Rolland’s head for giving his online book a bad review



A former Countdown champion who travelled 500 miles to attack a teenager with a wine bottle after she gave his book a bad review has been jailed for 30 months.

Richard Brittain smashed a bottle of wine into Paige Rolland’s head as she stacked shelves in an Asda supermarket in Glenrothes, Scotland.

He tracked the 18-year-old down online through her social media accounts after reacting badly to her analysis of his self-published title.

Only a month earlier Brittain - crowned a Countdown champion in 2006 - stalked a university classmate, Ella Durant, after she moved from London to Glasgow.

Today Sheriff Martin Jones QC granted an indefinite order preventing Brittain from using any electronic device to monitor the movements, follow, communicate or contact or approach either of his victims.

He also ordered Brittain to be monitored in the community for a year after his release from prison and told the accused 'the only disposal in this case is a custodial one'.

Earlier this month at Glasgow Sheriff Court Brittain, whose address was given as Palgrave, Bedford, pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused Miss Durant fear or alarm by repeatedly pursuing her, approaching her, following her and publishing a story about stalking her in September 2014.

He also admitted assaulting Miss Rolland with a bottle to her severe injury on October 3, 2014.

As Brittain was led away to begin his sentence he showed no emotion.