A former police officer and his wife were jailed for three years today for taking the law into their own hands.

Robert Symons, 53, punched and kicked builder Jeff King – after a row over unpaid renovation work on a Margate house.

His wife Jenny Turrell, 49, then joined in the assault, stabbing the victim in the neck with a screwdriver – as a passing driver and her 10-year-old son watched on in horror.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that although the weapon caused a puncture wound Mr King’s injuries weren’t grave and he was released from hospital.

Judge Adele Williams told them: “This was totally unacceptable violence in the street in broad daylight and the motorist and her son were deeply shocked by what they saw.”

Symons served for nine years in the police force before leaving after being stabbed in an incident he was investigating.

He was jailed in 2000 for four years after admitting serious drugs offences.

The couple had originally denied a charge of the attempted murder of Mr King – which was later dropped. The jury then acquitted them both of the charge of wounding with intent.

But Symons and Turrell, of Birchwood Park Avenue, Swanley, were convicted of unlawful wounding and she was also found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon.

The jury heard how after the original row with Mr King, he later trashed the house – and received a suspended sentence for causing criminal damage.

After the incident the couple contacted local papers to reveal what King had done - and the judge told them they had acted "unwisely by courting publicity".

In February Symons, who was driving a van, spotted the builder in Ethelbert Gardens and “leapt out” and began punching and kicking him

Prosecutor Dominic Connolly said: “Symons appeared at the back of the van. He was out of control. He was shouting, although Mr King couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“Before he had a chance to do or say anything, Symons punched him to the face, followed by a number of further blows to his face and body," he claimed.

“Before he had a chance to do or say anything, Symons punched him to the face, followed by a number of further blows to his face and body..." - prosecutor Dominic Connolly

Mr King told police he felt his head being smashed against the skip and as he lay on the ground before being kicked.

Mr Connolly said Symons then disappeared and Mr King staggered to his feet and saw a woman sitting in a car and pleaded for her to wait until the police arrived.

“The next thing he recalls is seeing Turrell standing in front of him shouting and screaming. She swung her right hand at him and it made contact with his neck or face, “ the prosecutor claimed.

The builder thought he had been hit with a hand but then realised he was bleeding heavily – and saw Turrell holding a screwdriver.

Mr Connolly added: “The blade of the screwdriver was protruding from her closed fist. She kept moving towards him saying: ‘”I’ll stab you again’.

“As he was backing away he felt another blow to the head and realised he was being attacked again by Symons, “ he claimed.

The incident was witnessed by motorist Clare Breakspear, who was sat in her car with her child, as the attack happened.

Oliver Saxby QC for Turrell said: “This was one act by her, which was reactive, without premeditation and devoid of any intent to cause serious harm..and was, to some extent, provoked.”

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