A raging Antonia Eastwood, 49, completely covered Gemma Monk, 35, in black paint in an act of revenge that allegedly began during her own wedding the previous year
A woman admitted she felt ashamed of her petty actions after throwing black paint over her sister-in-law’s wedding dress during her big day, and has revealed what her greatest fear was.
Antonia Eastwood, 49, stunned guests during the vindictive attack on Gemma Monk, 35, at Oakwood House Register Office in Maidstone, Kent in May 2024. The culprit also revealed what she feared most after carrying out the cruel act, which saw her receive a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The jaw-dropping moment turned the bride’s special day into a nightmare. But Gemma refused to be deterred by the incident and bravely carried on with the ceremony, after changing into another outfit, so she could finish her vows to childhood sweetheart, Kevin Monk.
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Speaking out for the first time since her sentencing, Antonia confessed to the Daily Mail: “I feel ashamed of myself. It’s not me. I’ve never been in trouble with the police before. Ever.” She went on to reveal the one thing that’s been keeping her up at night since the attack.
“I had a full-blown panic attack on the day I was sentenced. I was petrified I’d go to prison. It has all taken its toll,” she revealed. According to Gemma’s brother Ashley, who is married to Antonia, the bitter feud between the pair began at their wedding in 2023, when he claimed the latter “had her foot in the aisle as Toni walked past.”
That minor altercation sparked a bitter rivalry, which resulted in the pair not being invited to Gemma’s wedding. Antonia, who lives in Manchester, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for two offences of criminal damage. The court heard that the bill for repairs and “loss of revenue” at Oakwood House after the incident was at least £5,000.
Gemma’s victim impact statement describing how the attack has haunted her ever since: “To have paint thrown over me by my brother’s wife changed my outlook on life and made me question whether I had done something really bad, whether I had done something wrong. Since the incident, if it wasn’t for my children or my family, I don’t think I would even get out of bed to care for myself. I have lost all my dignity and good habits in life. I have lost who I used to be.”
She added that what was meant to be the “most special day of my life” quickly descended into the “worst memory” that neither she nor her family will ever forget. Speaking out after her sister-in-law was handed the suspended sentence, Gemma said she wasn’t the only one who felt the wrath of the paint.
As she stepped into the cream-walled carpeted hallway at the venue with dad Jason, bridesmaids and flower girls, she heard her name called out. In a split second, out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone throw black paint at her.
“The paint got into my eyes and my hair. It also splashed onto my bridesmaids,” she said. Elsewhere, prosecutor Pietro Matarazzo told the court: “Her wedding dress turned black. It was splattered with paint, as were her eyes, face, and skin.”
