A FORMER soldier, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), threatened to slit a man’s throat and kill him.

Shaun Holmes, 30, appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for attacking the man, who was in a relationship with his former partner.

The court heard that Holmes had approached his victim in Main Road, Hockley in February this year and shouted that he was “going to kill him” and “I’m going to cut your throat”.

His victim filmed the incident on his phone, and when he tried to turn and run away from Holmes he fell over and around £400 worth of damage was caused to his phone.

This was Holmes’s second offence against the victim, having previously carried out racially-aggravated criminal damage, worth £1,000, on his Range Rover in Rayleigh last November.

Holmes appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court in April where he received a suspended prison sentence for the criminal damage, and was sentenced for the incident in February yesterday.

Mitigating for Holmes, Chris Whitcombe said that the behaviour was related to the breakdown of his previous relationship, and that he has been suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since his time serving in the Armed Forces.

He said: “This part of his life is now gone. He sees no attempt to reconcile with his former partner, and sees no ill will for the relationship she has with the victim.

“When I explained to him that there would most likely be a restraining order against him, there was not a flicker of difficulty over him. He has no desire to see him.”

Mr Whitcombe added that Holmes had made good progress in tackling his PTSD with Project Nova, a support group for veterans in police custody.

Sentencing Holmes, Judge John Lodge said: “This is a picture that starts when you served in the army, where clearly you acted bravely and heroically. As with many soldiers what you saw on the battlefield remained with you.

“These memories caused you to take action in what was unacceptable and despicable way. When a witness gets attacked, the criminal justice system gets attacked.”

Holmes, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, received 19 months combined for witness intimidation, common assault and criminal damage suspended for 18 months. He received a restraining order meaning he cannot visit Hockley for five years.