The Thorpes are going to be spending Christmas in prison (Picture: BPM)

A couple who left a man facing the prospect of going blind in one eye in a row about cheese have been jailed.

Paul Ryder, 62, was accused of nicking cheese belonging to the unnamed victim, 34, at their sheltered accommodation in Matlock, Derbyshire.

As a result he contacted Michelle and Gary Thorpe, 41 and 47, to come round to help him confront him.

Michelle stamped on the victim’s head so hard that he had an imprint of the sole of her boot in his face while Gary left him ‘dripping in blood’, Derby Crown Court was told.


The Thorpes have both been jailed for 16 months for their part in the attack while Ryder was given a suspended prison sentence.



Slamming the trio, Judge Shaun Smith said to one of their barristers Tom Heath: ‘This was all over a piece of cheese?’

Mr Heath replied: ‘Yes, and there is no getting over that.’

Gary Thorpe left his victim ‘dripping in blood’ in the vicious attack at the man’s home (Picture: BPM)

Judge Smith said: ‘I have been involved in a number of cases over the years where an argument which started over such a trivial matter ended up with someone being killed.

‘You, Michelle Thorpe, got stuck in with your feet and stamped on him so hard that the imprint of your shoe was on his face.’

Prosecutor Abigail Joyce said the attack happened on March 16, 2018, and the Thorpes had been drinking in the run-up to the attack.

Miss Joyce told the court: ‘[Ryder]said to them over the phone, “he’s here now, I will let you in” which he did.

‘They then assaulted him, grabbing him and pulling him into another resident’s room.

Michelle Thorpe stamped on his face so hard that she left an imprint of her boot (Picture: BPM)

‘That person said Mr Thorpe and the man were fighting one-on-one and then Mr Thorpe got on top and was described as “pummelling him in the face repeatedly”.

‘He said it was brutal, he said Mr Thorpe was not holding back.’

The victim escaped by jumping out of a window and knocking on neighbours’ doors for help.

David Webster, representing the Thorpes, said Michelle is a mother-of-three with alcohol issues. Gary, he said ‘should not have got himself involved in someone else’s argument’.

He added: ‘He took up arms on behalf of Mr Ryder and now faces the prospect of spending the festive period behind bars.’