Former Chesterfield soldier with PTSD 'slapped two of his neighbours because they were not social distancing'

Philip Gaunt had served in the armed forces and had been trained in chemical warfare - making him very aware of the potential for infectious diseases to spread, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday, July 14.

The 44-year-old had been drinking heavily prior to the incident, which happened at Gaunt’s former address in New Street, North Wingfield, on April 16 this year.

Prosecuting, Lynn Bickley told the court that one of the neighbours had given Gaunt £20 earlier in the day, when he was already drunk, to buy vodka, and later told him to get to bed because he was still outside in an extremely drunken state.

But around 3.10pm he re-emerged and started shouting at both neighbours, who were sunbathing in a communal garden outside the flats, before approaching and slapping them and knocking off both men’s glasses.

Gaunt, who now lives in Bamford Avenue, North Wingfield, was moved by the authority following the incident, she said.

He admitted two counts of assault when he appeared before the court and had recently completed a community order for another violent offence.

Mitigating, Dave Gittins said: “He was struggling with alcohol and is suffering from PTSD after being discharged from the armed forces. He has had chemical weapons training, which has given him knowledge of contagious diseases and how easily they can be spread, and he’s seen two neighbours who were effectively sunbathing and not social distancing.

“This has almost been a good thing because it has served as a catalyst for change. He’s now been moved from the block of flats to a bungalow and he’s engaged with a local alcohol support organisation.”

Magistrates ordered Gaunt to complete another 12-month community order to include 15 rehabilitation days and fined him £20. He was also ordered to pay £150 in compensation. No costs or victim surcharge were awarded.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor