A JUDGE has hit out at 'mean-fisted governments' after hearing that an ex-soldier in court before him was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder when he assaulted another man.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC, sitting at Gloucester crown court, heard that ex-soldier Ricky Taylor, of Purley Road, Cirencester, now a bricklayer, admitted assaulting Rodney MacKenzie on July 25 this year causing him actual bodily harm.

But Taylor's defence lawyer, Matthew Harbinson, said his client had post traumatic stress disorder from his time serving the country, and was 'drinking extremely heavily'.

“As all soldiers do,” the judge remarked, “I know that because my father was a soldier. My brother was too.

“It is my approach,” the judge continued, “because of my background, I like to see the army discharge books.

“Mean-fisted governments are happy to send soldiers off to combat but not deal with it afterwards,” he said.

The court heard that Taylor served in the Yorkshire Regiment for five years, leaving seven years ago.

Prosecutor Ken Bell told the judge that Taylor had 17 previous convictions for 28 offences recorded against him.

Mr Bell said the majority of those offences involved alcohol but Taylor's defence lawyer explained that since these latest offences Taylor had stopped drinking.

The judge adjourned the case for sentence so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared by probation.

“There are a whole variety of options that can be constructively explored,” he said.

Taylor, a 33 year old former serviceman from Cirencester will be sentenced for a serious assault on October, 5.