Crime spree soldier spared jail

A young soldier who went on a spending spree with a stolen credit card and cheques after suffering post traumatic stress in Iraq, has been spared jail.

Jonathan Byrne, 20, from Norwich, spent £800 on a credit card he stole from a friend and took £400 from a woman's handbag, Southwark Crown Court heard.

He also spent £2,300 on riding lessons at London's Knightsbridge Riding Club using worthless cheques.

Byrne was serving an 11-month jail term for previous similar offences.

The court was told that magistrates had handed down a jail term after Byrne's four-month spree ended in October when he was arrested and found guilty of burglary and two counts of false representation.

'Reached breaking point'

At the crown court, he admitted five counts of theft and obtaining services by deception.

That included buying a painting worth £2,100 using stolen cheques.

He also asked for another nine thefts to be considered.

The court was told Byrne had volunteered for the army and was posted to Iraq, where he went Awol.

He was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

He was given a 51-week jail term suspended for two years, and given 250 hours of unpaid work and 18 months supervision.

Recorder Nigel Gerald said Byrne's "traumatic and unfortunate" past deserved some judicial sympathy.

He added: "You had obviously reached breaking point and I accept all of these offences were out of character in a time of personal crisis and may have been a cry for help.

"I am satisfied you have shown not just the usual remorse that guilty people do, but a very genuine and profound remorse and this is a turning point in your life."