Warning as two squaddies jailed for14 years for Royal Marines attack
TWO soldiers have been sent to prison for a total of 14 years for a "brutal attack" on two Royal Marines.
Alexander Thompson and William Press, both 26, were found guilty by a jury of inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm with intent and a second count of attempting to inflict GBH with intent.
They were caught on CCTV footage attacking Stonehouse based marines Martin Jones and Ray Simmons outside a burger van on Barbican Approach after a night out on December 2, 2010.
As a result Mr Jones was blinded in one eye sustaining several broken bones in his face and Mr Simmons was knocked unconscious. Mr Jones said in a victim impact statement: "One of the most upsetting things for me was a few days after, my senior officer told me I would not be able to go to Afghanistan with my friends and colleagues – I recall lying in bed crying. All I wanted to do was be a Royal Marine and through no fault of my own my career is now over."
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The defendants had that day been on a one-day course at HMS Raleigh with their Army regiment, 9 royal Logistic Corps.
Press, a father-of-one who grew up in Plymouth, was given credit for his early guilty pleas in relation to the attack on Mr Simmons. He was given six years for inflicting GBH with intent and four years for attempting GBH on Mr Simmons, to run concurrently.
Thompson, of Surrey who psychologists said had moderate Post Traumatic Stress at the time of the incident, received eight years for the attack on Mr Jones and four years for attempting GBH with intent.
Recorder Geoffrey Still, said: "This was a really brutal and unprovoked attack of such violence that within seconds both victims were on the ground defenceless and at your mercy. The injury to Mr Jones is life and career changing. Twelve years imprisonment is the [sentencing] starting point which from now on should be well known to young men in Plymouth looking for a fight. It was an adrenaline and alcohol fuelled onslaught with GBH written all over it right from the start."
The Recorder said the mitigating factors that reduced their sentences were their exemplary service records, lack of a weapon, good characters and in Thompson's case PTSD.
DC Matt Wood, the officer who investigated the case, said after the sentencing that "young men wishing to commit assaults" in Plymouth "will be dealt with accordingly."
Comment – Page 11
Comments
by BettyD
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 7:46PM
“lordornothing, I believe the victim in the other case only suffered minor cuts etc whereas one of the victims in this case has lost the sight in one of his eyes and his career as a result and the fact that this was a totally unprovoked attack whereas in the previous case it was a case of retaliation..........no excuse for either really”
by Tamrinbay
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 7:16PM
“Lucky Judge Francis Gilbert QC wasn't hearing this case they would have got a slap on the wrist and a £100 fine .Unlucky lads ,enjoy the time inside and don't drop the soap in the shower ! :)”
by dd842k
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 6:20PM
“yes these guys have done wrong but this is too steep, the system is all wrong, it makes no sense to me, Stapletons wife killed a 30yr old man - death by dangerous driving, she got fined £1200 and was not sentenced, Luke McCormick killed 2 children and severly disabled their father by drink driving, he is walking free right now and playing football again!!! it seems to me that maybe these young men did not have enough money in their bank accounts to shorten their sentence.... one rule for one and one for another.”
by googoo55
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 5:46PM
“Harsh dont understand the judges and there sentencing a while back A DOUBLE death crash delivery driver from Devonport who fell asleep at the wheel and killed two ex-servicemen has been jailed for only 28 months.I know it was driving and not fighting but i would of thought the driver would of got more then these 2 guys .”
by beagledog
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 4:13PM
“Finally a half decent sentence, and the judge didn't fall for the PTSD excuse or the old ' if they go to prison they will lose their jobs'. They only have themselves to blame, they should learn how to control their boozing. I hope they give their actions some thoughts in nick.”
by JMonners
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 3:30PM
“So attack a normal civilian 6 months, attack colleagues 14 years? Once again PTSD is blamed, good job they didnt have a rifle with them otherwise God knows what would have happened”
by LordorNothing
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 3:22PM
“why did these two get that long, yet the two others last week only got 6 months?”
by BettyD
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 3:01PM
“Yet AGAIN PTSD was wheeled out as a defence................sorry but it's NOT an excuse and is demeaning to others who are still serving or those who GENUINELY suffer from this illness”
by stevedykes
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 2:11PM
“good sentence but we need the sentencing to be a lot more like this , ref violent crime in this city.”
by stevedykes
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 2:06PM
“basically, if you misbehave you get punished. Thought at first bit steep , but no. lets get these sentences consistent , and jail more thugs like these. If you commit crime in MY CITY , you will (or should!) get punished. No place for violent crime here.”