SOLDIER RECEIVES COMMUNITY ORDER AFTER STRIKING PARTNER IN RAGE
A SOLDIER, who struck his partner in a moment of rage, was given a six-month community rehabilitation order by magistrates in Richmond yesterday.The court was told Private Matthew Gould, who serves with Eight Transport Regiment at Marne Barracks on the edge of Catterick Village, was usually a placid man, known for his kindness.
However, both he and his girlfriend had been drinking on Saturday, June 30, and an argument started over his relationship with his estranged wife when the couple got home.
Mitigating, solicitor Alan Meehan told magistrates Gould simply lashed out without aiming, connecting with his girlfriend, who banged her head on a cupboard as she fell, knocking her unconscious.
However, regretting his actions immediately, it was Gould who telephoned both an ambulance and the police, gave a full statement about what had happened and admitted assault when he appeared in court yesterday.
Sentencing Gould, the chairman of the Bench, Pauline Hanson, told him: "You do not seem to have particular problems with anger or alcohol, but speaking with experts from the probation service may just help." Gould was also ordered to pay £70 costs.
