Malcolm Potier jailed for strangling woman at West End show

Malcolm Potier, a 75-year-old businessman and former estate owner, has been sentenced to two years in prison at Southwark Crown Court for the non-fatal strangulation of a woman during a West End performance.

The incident occurred in June 2023 at the London Coliseum during a production of ‘We Will Rock You’. The victim, Kirsty O'Donnell, and a friend reportedly began singing along to the music, prompting a verbal dispute. After O'Donnell described the reaction of Potier's partner as ‘rude’, Potier allegedly told her, ‘I’ll show you what rude is’ before attacking her.

Judge Dafna Spiro described the behavior as ‘extreme and horrific,’ noting it was an unusual offense. While O'Donnell sustained no physical injuries, she testified that the attack left her more wary of her surroundings and conscious of her physical safety. Potier, who previously served prison time in Australia for attempting to arrange the murder of an ex-partner, claimed to have no recollection of the event.