A SINGLE punch has cost a soldier £4,000.
Thomas Wike was told by a judge he had behaved as if he was in combat the night he punched a man in the face in Colchester’s High Street.
A court heard how Aaron Page was outside the George Hotel on November 24 last year and got involved in a row.
Wike appeared on the scene and punched him for no reason before walking off.
Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, told the court: "It was an unprovoked attack which left Mr Page with bruising and a cut to his mouth needing ten stitches."
Wike, 21, a private in the Colchester Garrison-based Parachute Regiment, had been facing a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on an actual bodily harm charge but changed his plea to guilty.
He was fined £1,500 and told to pay Mr Page £1,000 compenstation and £1,500 costs.
Recorder Ian Evans told him: "It seems to me you conducted yourself in civilian life as if you were in combat and that is highly unacceptable.”
Sasha Bailey, mitigating, said Wike, from Nottingham, was a valued member of the regiment serving in a mortar platoon.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article