Soldier in court for fighting RAF

A BALKANS veteran who punched and kicked a rival member of the armed forces in a drunken brawl has been given a conditional discharge by magistrates.

South East Magistrates' Court heard how 28-year-old Charles Morton, from the 654 Squadron of the 4th Regiment, Army Air Corps based at Wattisham Airfield, teamed up with an army colleague in a fight with an RAF serviceman as inter-service rivalry turned nasty.

While Morton initially tried to break up the fight between RAF serviceman David Marr and fellow army man George Woodhouse, he then joined in the brawl.

The court heard how front seat passenger Marr got out of the cab and started laying into Woodhouse in the back seat of a taxi when the driver pulled into the Shell garage on Norwich Road.

Witnesses to the 2am brawl on May 3 heard "RAF bastard" being shouted, before seeing Marr grab Woodhouse around the throat.

He then pulled him out of the taxi in what prosecutor Gareth Davies called "a free exchange of blows".

He said: "While the taxi driver was paying for petrol, Marr ended up on the ground with Woodhouse kicking him in the ribs and ribcage."

The defendant became involved when he initially tried to prevent the brawl but ended up brawling.

Mr Davies said: "Morton got out of the vehicle to separate them then he joined in. Marr was the aggressor but Morton admits he kicked Marr when he was on the ground although not repeatedly as did Woodhouse. He had been drinking and was intoxicated at the time."

In a previous statement Morton, who admitted the offence, blamed the fracas on an "inappropriate" remark Woodhouse had made to a female passenger that Marr had taken exception to.

Both Marr and Woodhouse had previously been given 12 month conditional discharges for their part in the brawl.

Morton had been unable to attend the court hearing due to a tour in the Balkans. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs.