to important

[badtodabone]

so they can do what they want

28 January 2007

EXCLUSIVE: DRUNK TROOPS WHO SAVAGELY BEAT UP TOURIST FOR 'BEING IN OUR LAND' ESCAPE JAIL

By Nick Owens

THREE soldiers who attacked a man in the street just for being South African escaped jail as they were "essential" to the war effort in Iraq.

 

Gunners Simon Garraghan, 20, Douglas Hall, 21, and Sam Johnson, 21, beat up Clinton Brown in a drunken rage, screaming: "Why are you lot in our country? You shouldn't be."

 

He was punched and kicked and had his head stamped on in the unprovoked attack.

 

Yet the gunners walked free after a plea from their commander, Lt Dan Lenherr, 27, of First Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. He told the City of Westminster Court it would be disastrous for the Army if they were jailed. "We are undermanned and to lose a further three men would be catastrophic," he said. "Their presence in Iraq is essential for all of us.

 

"They are senior gunners and we need people that have that experience and resourcefulness. We depend on people like them."

 

Defending solicitor Gary Edel added: "The men are an important part of a unit going to Iraq in May. It is better for experienced professional soldiers to be in Iraq at this country's time of need."

 

 

The three, who admitted assault, went on a drinking spree in London in November on returning from Iraq, where they had lost two comrades.

 

 

The trouble started when Mr Brown, who was with his girlfriend Ashleigh Jones, asked the men for directions to a bar. Within seconds the soldiers started hurling insults, then began kicking and punching him. Mr Brown told the court: "All three were attacking me. I received numerous blows and kicks, I was kicked in the face by at least one of them."

 

 

District Judge Michael Snow fined them £1,000 each and ordered them to pay £1,000 compensation. They were also banned from entering a zone within the M25 for six months, banned from all licensed premises for six months and ordered to remain in their Hampshire barracks from 6pm to 6am until April 30.

 

 

The judge told them: "In many ways to impose a prison sentence would be an easy option as this was an entirely unprovoked attack based upon your intolerance of Mr Brown's nationality. I impose this sentence knowing you will suffer a significant loss of liberty and recognise it will allow you to continue with your important work."

 

linky

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[£440,000]

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[badtodabone]

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Edited January 28, 2007 by badtodabone