Llanelli DJ Leigh Brookfield jailed for urinating on cancer patient
- Published
Leigh Brookfield filming himself urinating on a cancer patient in a club toilet
A wedding DJ has been jailed for 14 weeks after filming himself urinating on a 72-year-old cancer patient and posting the video online.
Leigh Brookfield, 40, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, admitted common assault after the Boxing Day incident at Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club.
He must serve half of the sentence, he was told at Llanelli Magistrates Court.
His victim was unaware what happened at the time and cried when he later saw the video.
District judge Mark Layton told Brookfield he mocked a "vulnerable victim".
In the footage, which was shown in court, Brookfield is seen standing next to Peter Barton at the urinals of Llanelli Squash and Tennis Club.
Mr Barton told him about his serious health issues, prompting Brookfield to say "sorry to hear that, bud" as he urinated on him.
A victim impact statement was read out in court on behalf of Mr Barton, in which he said the assault was "devastating".
Prosecutor Kelly Rivers told the court that Mr Barton was "completely shocked" when he came out of the toilets and Brookfield asked him: "Do you want another photo?".
"Mr Barton didn't know what he was talking about," she said.
She said members of the tennis club knocked on his door the following day asking if he was OK and Mr Barton was "completely gobsmacked" when they showed him the video.
Leigh Brookfield was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates Court
In the victim impact statement, Mr Barton said he cried when he saw the video.
"I couldn't believe someone would do this to someone else," he said.
"I went into the town to get some bread and I heard someone say: 'Look it's the man from Facebook'.
"It was extremely upsetting to know that people had seen this video and people are recognising me because of the video."
The court heard how Brookfield had three previous drink-driving related convictions.
'Wake-up call'
Robert Thomas, defending, said Brookfield was "extremely embarrassed, ashamed and appalled by his actions", and he wished to apologise to the victim.
Mr Thomas said Brookfield "has had a drink problem for some time and he's been a user of recreational drugs.
"This has been a wake-up call for him.
"He has totally abstained from drink and drugs since the incident.
"The prospect of jail terrifies him."
Mr Thomas said at the time, Brookfield was working as a DJ, and that "opportunity has gone and is not likely to be offered again."
Sentencing Brookfield to a 14-week prison sentence, the judge told him on the night of the incident "another person engaged with you in polite conversation.
"He told you he was suffering with cancer. Most people would respond with kind words but you urinated on him.
"He was a vulnerable victim that you were mocking."
Brookfield was also ordered to pay £500 compensation, costs of £85 and a £155 surcharge.
Following the incident, Brookfield posted an apology on social media, before deleting his account.
He wrote: "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 issued on Facebook on 28 December, Llanelli Tennis and Squash Club said Brookfield had been "banned from the club for life for his vile actions".
The club said the video posted on Snapchat and then on Facebook was brought to their attention and the club chairperson visited Mr Barton.
"He 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," the club said.
Dyfed-Powys Police chief inspector Phil Rowe said after the sentencing that the way Brookfield had acted was "vile, and understandably caused considerable concern in the community".
"We hope that today's sentence goes some way to make the victim feel that justice has been done, and enable him to move on from the incident.
"We also hope that this sentence sends a message that this behaviour will not be tolerated within our community," he said.
- Published29 December 2023
- Published29 December 2023
