Man attacked 18-year-old woman who gave his book a bad review

17:28 - 11 November 2015

A writer travelled to Scotland to attack an 18-year-old woman who critiqued his book

A writer travelled to Scotland to attack an 18-year-old woman who critiqued his book.

Richard Brittain, 28 made his way from England to Scotland and used Facebook to track victim Paige Rolland, 18, at her work.

The 28-year-old arrived at the Asda store where she worked and attacked her with a wine bottle to the head from behind – knocking her out.

The court heard Brittain uploaded part of a published book of his called 'The World Rose' onto a website called Wattpad, where people can read and critique literature written by others.

Miss Rolland read the excerpt and left comments.

The lawyer Harry Findlay said: ‘Paige Holland had read some of that material and gave feedback of what she thought to be the merits or otherwise of the book.

‘The feedback was negative. What followed were comments made by the accused which give an indication that he was displeased.’

Following the review, he travelled, tracked her and then attacked her with a bottle while she was working.

Ms Rolland was taken to hospital with wounds to the head.

Mr Brittain once stalked a university classmate, Ella Durant, because she refused to go out with him. He used her Twitter and Instagram accounts to find out where she worked and turned up on two separate occasions to speak to her.