‘Hero’ soldier had breached order

John Burge, who was said to have an exemplary record and who represented the Army at boxing, defied a court ruling not to contact his wife, because he wanted to be reunited with her.

He appeared in her Army home in the early hours as she slept and pleaded for her to take him back.

He had been ordered by a court only a fortnight previously not to contact his wife when he assaulted her twice after accusing her of having an affair.

Burge, 28, who is based at Weeton Army Camp, Weeton, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining 
order.

He was sentenced to 13 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, put on up to 30 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service and made the subject of a Residency Order which requires him to live at the single person’s barracks at Weeton Army Camp.

He was also ordered to pay his wife £100 compensation and pay a £180 court charge plus £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said Burge had been put on a 12 months restraining order on May 19, which banned him from approaching or harassing his wife.

On June 5 at 1.30am she woke from her sleep on the sofa in her married quarters at the camp to see Burge stood there.

Brett Chappell, defending, said: “He has served his country honourably.

“He is a hero. His conduct in the Army has been described as exemplary.”

Burge had served a number of tours of duty in Iraq and also in Afghanistan. He lost many colleagues and friends which had a devastating effect on him.

He had been diagnosed with suffering post traumatic stress disorder.