Jail term for Iraq war veteran

An Iraq war veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder has been jailed for threatening a man he visited for drugs with a stolen pistol.

Danny McKee, 29, from Cardiff, who was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers at the time, was sentenced to three years in prison at Exeter Crown Court.

McKee had earlier pleaded guilty to stealing and possessing the 9mm Browning automatic weapon with intent.

He had served with a bomb disposal unit in Iraq during 2004.

Pistol whipped

McKee took the handgun from the armoury at RMB Chivenor, north Devon, and used it to threaten and injure Kevin Berry at his home in Barnstaple in June.

Recorder Nicholas Gerasimidis said McKee went there for heroin, but left empty-handed.

He then went back later in the day with the unloaded weapon and "held the gun to Mr Berry, demanded drugs and money and threatened to shoot him," said Mr Gerasimidis.

When McKee escaped by diving through a window, Mr Berry chased him and struggled with him, and was then "pistol whipped", suffering cuts and bruises.

Flashback experience

The recorder said two doctors agreed McKee suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, with one doctor describing his condition as "significant although moderate".

It was the doctor's opinion that when McKee committed the offence he was not acting in a "flashback experience".

The Army put him through this and now wants to wash its hands of him Gavin Collett

The Recorder told McKee he found that at the time of the offence "your condition was not the cause of your actions".

"I take the view only a custodial sentence is appropriate in this case," he added.

The Recorder accepted that McKee had shown a considerable element of remorse, shame and contrition, and hoped he would go to a prison where he could receive treatment for his condition.

The court heard how McKee suffered nightmares after seeing his two colleagues die in a Land Rover accident during an exercise in Canada in 2001.

After he served in Basra, he failed to adapt to normal life after leaving the war zone and turned to heroin.

Defence counsel Gavin Collett said the only organisation that could help him come to terms with his problems was the Army.

"But the Army is saying because of this incident he will be discharged, and if he is not in the Army they cannot help him," he said. "He desperately needs help but it seems no one wants to treat people who have served their country with bravery and valour.

"The Army put him through this and now wants to wash its hands of him," he said.