A FORMER soldier, who served his country in Iraq, has been jailed after assaulting a man and punching him wearing a knuckle duster.

Lewis Roberts, of Ashdown Lane, attacked a man in a taxi office on Bridge Street after he made a comment about Mr Roberts’ girlfriend’s cleavage.

The pair had been drinking and were waiting for a taxi in the early hours of May 4 last year when Mr Roberts felt that Mr Price made an offensive comment about his girlfriend, slipped on the knuckle duster and started punching him.

Mr Roberts left the taxi office and after a short chase was caught by police.

Oliver King, prosecuting, said: “The defendant did not have the knuckle duster on him when he was apprehended but now accepts that he had used it.”

Mr Price was left with a small cut to his ear as well as several small cuts on the side of his face.

David Rose, defending, told Warrington Crown Court on Monday that Mr Roberts had a very good record during his time in the army but had to be discharged after suffering from anxiety.

He said: “Mr Roberts never normally drinks to that excess and felt that he was provoked after what he viewed as an offensive comment towards his girlfriend.

“He served in Iraq in what was an extremely demanding environment and while there is no medical evidence, could be suffering from post-traumatic stress.”

Judge Nicholas Woodward said: “You served on the front line over a number of years and have a good work record.

“You deliberately put the knuckle duster on your hand but didn’t admit to it straight away and as a result of that it is difficult to give you full credit for pleading guilty.”

The 24-year-old was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.