A FORMER soldier who “went berserk” and assaulted six people may not have to go to jail if a safe alternative can be found, a judge said on Friday (4th November).

It was the second time Kyle Jones, 35, of Fisherman’s Walk, Chepstow, had been before Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced for causing a “hideous scene” of violence and injury in Sedbury, but on both occasions Judge Jamie Tabor QC held back from jailing him.

Jones pleaded guilty to assaulting Sarah Hutchins and police sergeant Wallen of Gloucestershire Police causing them actual bodily harm on 13th December last year.

He also admitted assaulting Katrina Jones and Shaun Hogg by beating and he further pleaded guilty to assaulting police constables Tamplin and Turner in the execution of their duty.

When Jones first appeared before the court for the offences four months ago Judge Tabor adjourned to see if he could keep off alcohol and undergo medical tests to determine the cause of his “unusual aggression.”

On Friday Jones returned to court for the judge to be told the full facts of the assault and to consider psychological reports.

Prosecutor George Threlfall said: “This all occurred in the early hours of 13th December in Sedbury when various people were leaving the Village Inn.

“People heard a woman screaming in distress. They followed the sound and saw the defendant throwing a woman they knew as Katrina Jones between two parked cars.

“They decided to call the police and one of the witnesses, Shaun Hogg, ran towards the defendant to stop him. Mr Jones punched him to the side of the head and then grabbed him and threw him to the ground.

“The defendant went back towards Katrina Jones, who was still on the ground.

“He kicked her to the face a number of times. Witnesses describe the attack as relentless and they thought he was going to kill her.

“Then Sarah Hutchins ran up to Mr Jones shouting ’leave her alone.’ Mr Jones punched her and threw her across the road.

“Police officers arrived and saw Katrina Jones lying in the road screaming and writhing around. She had swelling to the right eye and blood on her face.

“The police went to her aid and took her home to Chepstow.”

At that stage, said Mr Threlfall, the defendant had left the scene.

“When the police got Katrina Jones home she refused to tell the police what had happened or why and she would not let them into her house. But then the defendant flung open the door of her home and ran out screaming to the officers not to touch Ms Jones and to get off her.

“His demeanour at that time is described as very aggressive with his eyes bulging. He smelt of alcohol. Sergeant Wallen took hold of his left hand and another officer took hold of his right. PC Tamplin attempted to put handcuffs on him but he suddenly grabbed hold of the cuffs and hit the officer with them on the left side of his head.

“He continued to resist and fought with the officers, kicking PC Turner in the stomach. He broke free and drove Sgt Wallen into a wall, causing him to hit his left hand and eye.

Mr Threlfall said another PC tazered Jones but he was incapacitated for only a few seconds. He then continued struggling and was sprayed with PAVA gas before finally being overpowered and arrested.

Judge Tabor said: “I have read the psychological report on him and it appears that this is not so much to do with post traumatic stress from his service in Afghanistan but that he has a personality disorder with schizoid tendencies and a touch of autism as well.”

Mr Holmes said it looked as though any psychological damage done to him had been from ’barracks behaviour’ by comrades rather than his Afghan service.

Judge Tabor commented: “He says he was somewhat desensitised about suffering because that is one of the things that happens to soldiers.”

Mr Holmes said Jones had not drunk alcohol since the incident.

The judge added: “He is a man with a burning sense of anger and he has a hair trigger.”

Mr Holmes said that to jail him now would set him back and undo all the efforts he has been making.

Judge Tabor agreed to adjourn until 2nd December to see if the probation service can come up with a package of support and supervision that would benefit Jones and also protect the public.

The judge bailed Jones, saying that the key question for the probation service to answer is whether he will be manageable within the community.