Ex-soldier Carl Jones with stress disorder admits Wrexham affray charge
An Iraq war veteran suffering from post traumatic stress has admitted affray after police were called to his partner's home on Christmas Day.
Carl Adrian Jones, 25, of Johnstown near Wrexham could not cope and police found him holding two kitchen knives to his throat, Mold Crown Court heard.
He was placed on a 12 month community order with supervision.
The judge said he was impressed the defendant accepted full responsibility.
Prosecuting barrister Michael Whitty said police officers, including those with taser guns, had to spent some time trying to persuade the defendant to put the knives down.
When he did, without the tazers being used, he was uncooperative, aggressive and swore at the police.
Interviewed later he said he was drunk and could not remember a lot but he accepted what he had done and described is own behaviour as disgusting.
Paul Abraham, defending, said his client had spent three days after the incident in a psychiatric ward, his medication had been changed and his condition had stabilised.
The offence was a cry for help by a man who had been under some strain for some time.
Jones had been discharged from the British army in 2009 with post traumatic stress disorder and he had not received the necessary intervention to deal with his condition at that stage, said his barrister
Back in civilian life had also been hit by the death of a cousin aged 11 months, the death of his grandmother and his own mother had become seriously ill.
Out of character
"Everything got on top of him towards the end of last year," said Mr Abraham.
The court was told the defendant's family were very supportive and the prosecution had opened doors to him where he could received the help that he needed, Mr Abraham added.
Judge, Mr Recorder Timothy Petts, said it was clear the defendant was a combat veteran diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and that was something that the court would bear in mind.
On Christmas Day he had drunk a modest amount of alcohol but it was combined with his prescribed drugs, he said.
Jones had behaved out of character but the judge said he was impressed that despite the fact he could not remember what he had done, the defendant accepted full responsibility.
The supervision order would ensure that the probation service could give him support alongside Combat Stress and other agencies, the judge added.