AN 'angry' ex-soldier beat his former friend with a scaffolding pole after he confessed to crashing his car.

Army veteran Daniel Johnson of Watery Lane, Lower Bullingham, Hereford, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault, punching friend and housemate Jason Craddock at least twice before beating him with a metal pole.

Not guilty verdicts were entered to two further counts of theft and possession of an offensive weapon.

The 45-year-old, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, accepted punching Mr Craddock twice on July 25 last year after the victim told the defendant he had crashed his car which he had taken without Johnson's permission.

Philip Brunt, prosecuting, said: “Mr Johnson reacted badly and punched him. Mr Craddock said it was four times in his interview. Mr Johnson admitted punching him twice."

The two men then went to Mr Craddock's father's garage at City Spares to see if he could repair the car. However, David Craddock, the victim's father, told them the car was 'beyond repair'.

"That upset Mr Johnson who became angry. He picked up a large three or four feet long hollow metal pole, described as a scaffolding tube, and used that to hit Mr Craddock (Jason Craddock) to his arm and back," said Mr Brunt.

The prosecution say this involved two swings of the pole while David Craddock heard Johnson saying he was going to 'kill' his son.

Jason Craddock believed his arm may have been broken but this proved not to be the case.

Jason Craddock also made a victim personal statement describing the effect upon him of both assaults.

Summarising this statement Mr Brunt said: "It's affected his ability to trust people. He doesn't like going out unless he's going out with someone he trusts. He thought he could trust Daniel, thought of him like

a brother.

"When he assaulted him it broke that trust and stopped him trusting other people."

The victim also said the attack had made his sciatica worse and that he 'had to use a cane to walk about' and 'really struggles', has been told he needs physiotherapy 'but is too scared to leave the house'.

Johnson has previous convictions for a public order offence in 1996, driving with excess alcohol in 2002, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2004, harassment in 2007 and was convicted of a further public order offence (section four threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence) a week before the attacks upon Mr Craddock.

Simon Worlock, defending, said his client was awaiting a serious operation upon his neck but accepted that he had overreacted which he argued originated in his military training some years ago.

Mr Worlock said Johnson had been 'somewhat addicted to opiates' but accepted that his client 'stands at great risk of going to prison and quite rightly'.

He also conceded that his client had only pleaded guilty 'at the 11th hour' but added: "He pleaded nonetheless and I know your Honour will take that into account."

Mr Worlock went on to describe Johnson's service as a soldier in the Balkans and Afghanistan which he said 'broke him'. "He has seen significant service in theatres of war" he said.

Johnson is now free of drugs after seeking support from Addaction.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said he must sentence Johnson on his basis of plea which was that the defendant was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder which led to him being discharged from the Army in 2004 after he served in several theatres as a paramedic. This PTSD led to the collapse of his marriage and with problems in finding employment.

According to this basis Johnson received treatment for PTSD in 2006, set up a gardening business in 2014 serving Royal British Legion veterans, started work as a lorry driver in 2017 to supplement that income but was involved in a collision and suffered a serious neck injury which required the fusion of several vertebrae in his neck.

The judge said: "Initially you had been treated with opiates while awaiting that surgery. As a result you became addicted to prescription drugs and used crack cocaine to suppress your PTSD flashbacks. That led directly to the collapse of your business, the loss of your home and the loss of your personal relationship."

He accepted that Mr Craddock 'borrowed your car without permission and crashed it'. The judge described Johnson's military service for his country as a 'powerful factor' in mitigation and said his guilty plea even at a late stage weighed in favour of suspension of the prison sentence.

Judge Cartwright sentenced him to seven months in jail suspended for two years and ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a thinking skills requirement.

He imposed a restraining order preventing Johnson having contact directly or indirectly with Jason Craddock or David Craddock for three years.

Johnson must also pay £500 compensation and £200 costs.