Home   Ashford   News   Article

Alan Hogg's 'knife and knuckleduster attack' on co-director at Green Box Recycling in Ashford

Two directors of a recycling centre had a punch-up which ended with one of them being attacked with a knife and knuckleduster, a court heard.

Alan Hogg, 52, thrust the knife into managing director Richard Monks' tee shirt before striking him over the head leaving a two-inch gash, it is alleged.

The incident is said to have happened at the Green Box Recycling Centre, at Cobbswood Industrial Estate near Ashford last June.

The incident is said to have happened at the recycling centre in Ashford
The incident is said to have happened at the recycling centre in Ashford

Hogg, of Church Road, Hartley, Longfield, is on trial at Canterbury Crown Court and the jury are currently out considering their verdicts now.

During the trial, Mr Monks told the jury: "He walked up to me and said: "I've got something for you.

"It was an unusual conversation but I took it tongue in cheek.

"But I realised he wasn't joking when I saw he was carrying a knife and a knuckle duster."

Hogg, has admitted unlawfully wounding his fellow director at the centre, but is on trial after pleading not guilty to wounding Mr Monks intending to cause him serious harm, and illegally possessing a knife and a knuckleduster.

Hogg is said to have attacked Mr Monks with a knife and knuckleduster at the Greenbox Recycling site.
Hogg is said to have attacked Mr Monks with a knife and knuckleduster at the Greenbox Recycling site.

The court heard the "unnecessary and violent" incident on June 27, last year was caught on CCTV and shown to the jury.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis told them during the fight a driver used his lorry to keep the two men apart.

"The CCTV shows the defendant making three thrusts with a knife towards Mr Monks.

"Hogg then repeatedly punches Mr Monks with what the prosecution say is with undisguised relish.”

He claimed Hogg and his son then leave the premises with a computer equipment under his arm.

"We say he did so to ensure there was no recording of the incident.

"However, he took the wrong machine," added Mr Dennis.

The trial was held at Canterbury Crown Court
The trial was held at Canterbury Crown Court

The jury were then shown a nine-minute CCTV clip in which the prosecutor claimed the first blow on Mr Monks was unprovoked.

He added: "We say it was a sustained attack with two weapons and Mr Monks was fortunate not to have sustained more serious injuries."

Mr Monks told the jury he was with the company and had invited Hogg to join after his daughter and son worked for him.

"I remember being hit over the head with the knuckleduster before I got myself away." - Mr Monks

On the day of the incident, he said Hogg walked up to him on the site.

Hogg then said to him: "You are going to get this and I'm going to teach you."

Mr Monks then claimed Hogg then thrust a knife "three or four times" towards him.

He said: "But I was nimble enough to keep out of the way and then hid behind a lorry."

Hogg then got around the lorry and struck Mr Monks over the head as he tried to push him away.

Mr Monks added: "I remember being hit over the head with the knuckleduster before I got myself away."

He told the jury he then telephoned his wife who contacted police after he told the fellow director he wasn't going to be "bullied out of the business".

Mr Monks added: "He said to me if you want a war you can have a war. I said he could bring it on.

"He also said he was going to kill me but I didn't think he meant it."

He also claimed Hogg then took away a computer hub from the office, which he believed had captured the incident, but took the wrong thing.

The jury are still out deliberating their verdict.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More