UK: Gulf War Vet with PTSD sent to jail for knife attack

Former soldier jailed
Published on 12/01/2008


Seriously wounded: Gordon McPake was stabbed in the flat above the Jester pub on Botchergate By Staff Reporter

A FORMER soldier who stabbed a friend twice with a kitchen knife during a drunken argument has been jailed indefinitely.

A judge at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday told 41-year-old Graham Tongue he was lucky not to have killed Gordon McPake in the incident in a flat above the Jester pub in Botchergate 11 months ago.

Tongue, of Borland Avenue, Botcherby, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He will have to serve at least 40 months in prison before even being considered for parole and will then be released only when the authorities are satisfied he is no longer a danger to the public.
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http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=586016

One more case of a combat veteran falling into the abyss because he was not helped. One more time a veteran had to suffer for being wounded by his nation asked of him. One more person suffering for a crime against them, that may have not have happened if this veteran was taken care of. I am not so blind that I think all crimes committed by veterans are all tied to PTSD but the fact is, the majority of them are in one shape or form or another. Some crimes are committed because the veteran will seek self-medication instead of psychological help. Some are committed because of medications. Each case is different but what they all have in common is that a veteran has paid the price and so have everyone else they came into contact with.