A judge has advised an Afghanistan veteran to seek help for his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after he attacked a man in the street.
Jonathan Dunne, aged just 26, had completed two tours in Afghanistan before being discharged as his condition became clear. In his home town of Llanelli, he made an unprovoked attack outside of a club. The judge presiding over his case, Judge Peter Heywood, did not sentence Dunne to jail, but did advise him to get help.
“I don’t think we give enough credit to the men who are prepared to lay down their lives on a daily basis for us” the Judge said, but did comment that the justice system was beginning to deal with more cases of offences being committed by servicemen and women.
Dunne was given a 12 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work at Swansea Crown Court, after leaving his victim unconscious outside a club however, he caused no serious injuries.
“I want you to talk to your supervising officer and I don’t want you to put on a face of bravado but if you’re suffering flashbacks or anything of the sort you have to raise it” the judge added.
The judge, highlighting that we often expect servicemen and women to be robust and strong, but that this ‘macho’ expectation often inhibits their ability to seek treatment for psychological issues and stress, which can make life very difficult for them.
