Countdown champ guilty of attacking young woman who criticised his book

Countdown champion 2006, Richard Brittain pleaded guilty to assault. Credit: Channel 4.

A 28 year old man from Bedfordshire, who was crowned champion of the TV programme, Countdown, in 2006, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a young woman who posted a negative review of his book online.

Richard Brittain travelled 500 miles from his home in Palgrave in Bedfordshire to a supermarket in Fife, Scotland where 18 year old Paige Rolland worked. She had posted a negative review of his book, The World Rose, on a website.

Brittain attacked the teenager from behind with a full wine bottle as she worked as a home shopper assistant at Asda. She suffered an horrific head injury.

18 year old Paige Rolland. Credit: Submitted.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Brittain, pleaded guilty to assault and to another charge of stalking a former university classmate. He will be sentenced at a later date. Watch Kate Prout's full report below, Countdown footage courtesy of Channel 4.