A Sheerness man who brutally attacked a friend with a vodka bottle after the victim refused to help him cheat a drug test has been sentenced to more than two years in prison.
Shaun Packer, 61, from Sheerness, was hosting a friend and others for drinks at his home on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Packer, who was on licence and required to undergo regular drug testing, asked his guest to provide a urine sample because he believed he would fail the test. But, when the friend refused to help falsify the test, a fight broke out and Packer escalated the violence by grabbing a bottle of vodka and smashing it over the victim’s head. He then attempted to stab the injured man with the broken bottle neck.
The victim managed to flee to a neighbour’s house. Paramedics treated him at the scene before taking him to the hospital for a deep cut to his head. Police quickly attended and arrested Packer, who was charged with wounding with intent. Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Packer initially pleaded not guilty to intending to cause serious injury but later admitted to wounding, but on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Packer was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. He will also spend a further two years on licence upon release. The court imposed a seven-year restraining order and ordered Packer to pay costs of £1,630.
Following the sentencing, investigating officer DC Catherine Massey said:
“Packer has proven himself to be a serious danger to people around him, so we’re very glad to see him behind bars. For him to commit such horrific violence towards someone he claimed to be friends with is a particularly chilling aspect of this crime. I hope he uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions and amend his ways.”