'Hurt' husband jailed for driving into church

Dec 9 2009 by Matt Lloyd, Birmingham Mail

AN ESTRANGED man who drove a car down the aisle of the church he was married in was jailed for ten months.

Robert Knowles, of Stourdell Road, Halesowen, was in a “very emotional state” after being told by his wife of two years there was no chance of a reconciliation, Sally Cairns defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

She said the 36-year-old went back to the church where the pair married in 2007 feeling “hurt and rage” and he lost control as he lined up his Vauxhall Astra with the main doors on July 29 this year.

Knowles then drove straight into the Flame Community Church, Cardale Street, Rowley Regis causing £25,000 damage.

He ruined flooring, carpets, computers and caused some flooding as the car ripped radiators off walls before leaving the vehicle embedded in a stage.

Afterwards Knowles simply walked away from the scene, said prosecutor Hugh O’Brien-Quinn.

The following day he told police: “My wife doesn’t want to know me.”

Knowles admitted criminal damage and was told by Judge John Wait: “You were well aware that church was central to the lives of many people including your wife.

“You were well aware of the distress any vandalism to a church held dear by so many people would cause.”

The Judge said it was not a momentary loss of control adding: “This was something you thought out because you lined up your car with the front doors of the church.

“In my view this was a wicked offence and it is so serious only custody can follow.”

He said Knowles had used his car as a weapon and, because that demonstrated his determination to damage the church, he also disqualified him from driving for a year.

Pastor Alan Silver, leader of the church, described the scene after the attack as surreal.

He said: “I’ve been ministering for 35 years and that comes very high up as a surreal experience.

“Some of the chairs were made of metal so the car could have caught on fire if the fuel line had been torn.

“The whole church family was really supportive and all pulled together. Thankfully the damage was covered by insurance and the renovations and repairs were completed within six weeks which was amazing.”