Noisy lodger 'tried to drill through landlord's head'

A lodger, Raymond Douglas, tried to drill through his landlord Lee Woodford's head after he was asked to move out for making too much noise, the Old Bailey was told. Douglas, 44, flew into a murderous rage when Mr Woodford tried to evict him for constantly waking him up, jurors heard.

After threatening to kill Mr Woodford, his son Jack and friend Matthew Ellis, Douglas - nicknamed Chaos - waited for them to go back to bed before grabbing his drill, it was said. Douglas then rammed the whirling tool against terrified Mr Woodford's forehead, it is alleged.

Screaming as the bit sunk into his head and fractured his skull, Mr Woodford desperately tried to protect himself before Douglas then pierced his victim's chest with the drill. As Jack Woodford and Mr Ellis rushed to help, Douglas swung the weapon at them.


Photo from here.

He knocked Mr Ellis out cold and drilled into the younger Mr Woodford's stomach, the court heard. Lee Woodford was treated for a blood clot in the head and a fractured skull and had the wound in his chest stitched. The other two men received treatment for less severe injuries.

Douglas denies attempting to murder Lee Woodford and a lesser alternative of causing him grievous bodily harm. He also denies wounding Jack Woodford with intent and causing Mr Ellis actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.