A wedding DJ has admitted to common assault and been banned for life from a tennis club in Wales after he filmed himself urinating on a cancer patient – before sharing the clip on Snapchat.
Leigh Brookfield deliberately splashed victim Peter Barton at the Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club on Boxing Day, Llanelli Magistrates' Court was told. The 40-year-old could now face time behind bars after he was bailed ahead of sentencing next year.
After he was criticised over the grim incident, he wrote on Facebook: “I'm apologising to you all regarding my actions this evening. I'm deeply sorry for those who I have offended and if I could take it all back I would. It's just something me and the boys do when we are drunk and until watching the video back I didn't realise that the nice gentleman next to me was going through health problems.”
In a statement, Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club wrote: “(Peter) was understandably upset about this incident as he has recently had treatment for cancer. We are a family friendly club and are devastated that our name has been bought into this despicable act by a person who has no association with the club and through no fault of our own. Leigh Brookfield has been banned from the club for life for his vile actions.”
It’s not the first time Brookfield has committed crimes whilst drunk, the court heard, with his defence team asking for a pre-sentence report to be carried out to address his alcohol use. Lawyer Steven John said: “This was obviously committed in drink and there's a history of alcohol-related offending.”
Although Brookfield had been due to DJ at a nightclub in Llanelli, as soon as the video became public they cancelled his slot. It caused outrage with the tennis club also keen to distance themselves from his behaviour.
In court, prosecutor Lucy Mansfield said: “This occurred on Boxing Day this year at the Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club within the toilets. The defendant entered the toilets and has spoken to the complainant and the complainant explained that he has recently received a prostate cancer diagnosis. Whilst this was happening the defendant proceeded to urinate on the complainant and while this was occurring video was posted online.”