Hero to Zero

[Gromit]

A soldier who has served in Afghanistan has been charged after the Manchester Riot.

http://www.telegraph....anded-in-custody.html

// Gunner Liam Bretherton, 20, faces dismissal from the Army after walking into a guitar shop with a valuable Gibson Les Paul just 12 hours after a flagship music store in Manchester had been ransacked by looters.
He was arrested when the owner of the shop became suspicious and checked the serial number on the instrument. He then locked him in the shop until the police arrived.

Army sources admitted that they were braced for a number of soldiers to be charged following this week’s rioting as the majority are on summer “bloc leave” in August. //

They should bring back National Service, shouldn't they?

[DrFilth]

>> They should bring back National Service, shouldn't they? <<


nice one gromit

[boxtops]

What's National Service got to do with this one? The guy's a serving soldier, he's already done far more than two years of national service would ever have done for him.

[DrFilth]

boxy think about it some people have stated that they need to bring back national service
get them in the army to teach people respect , discipline etc :)

[boxtops]

Yes, and I agree, DrF - I just don't see how in this particular case, NS would have helped, the offender is only 20 but is already IN the full-time Army.

[DrFilth]

boxy sorry i can't explain it better :)

[boxtops]

I agree, something like NS would be a damned good idea for some of the layabouts who don't work, but not working, and loafing about, seems to be culturally acceptable in some quarters these days. The idea the Frenchhad of stopping benefits after a year has some mileage - but then if those without work had no money, the argument is that crime would increase again. Vicious circle.

[DrFilth]

boxy can you not see it

he is in the army what has he learnt :)

[boxtops]

Ah, yes - light dawns, I see what you are getting at. Yes indeed. So much for military discipline, and bringing the regiment into disrepute.

[DrFilth]

mr g is taking the p

[sandyRoe]

In mitigation his lawyer will cite the stress of serving in foreign lands. Might help him avoid a prison sentence.
If someone else tried to cite the stress of living in the nightmarish inner-city world of drug dealers, gang violence, and urban deprivation, they'd have laughter ringing in their ears all the way down to the cells.

[boxtops]

This might sound facile but I'd rather live in an inner city (which I have) than live in fear of snipers and remote controlled bombs as part of my day job.

[modeller]

I'm not surprised . You have to remember youths from depived and homeless backgrounds very often join the army for a stable life. When they leave the army or when on leave they return to their unstable life style. I spent years in the army and saw this problem first hand. It is very sad and I would hope that there are ways for him to remain in the service. A spell in an army jail which is very tough could be the answer.

[modeller]

boxtop // This might sound facile but I'd rather live in an inner city (which I have) than live in fear of snipers and remote controlled bombs as part of my day job.//
I spent years in the army but the only time I felt fearful was when I was on leave in Moss Side Manchester.

[R1Geezer]

sorry gromit I don't speak plonker, you are going to have to explain the relationship between thieving scum and national service.

[sp1814]

R1Geezer

I got it straight away - this is a well-aimed dig at those who think the answer to these social misfits is to bring back National Service. The fact that the army is bracing itself for more serving soldiers being charged refutes that.

[R1Geezer]

along with Olympic Athletes, law students etc, it just demonstrates that scum has many disguises.

[SeaJayPea]

...which was Gromit's point, surely.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Army sources admitted that they were braced for a number of soldiers to be charged following this week’s rioting as the majority are on summer “bloc leave” in August.///

/// One suggested that it could be as a many as half-a-dozen.///

As many as half-a-dozen eh ????????

A typical Anti-British dig at the whole of our military.

Amazing how they picked a white lad, if it had been a black soldier it would most likely not have made the papers.

Just the same as they are focusing more on the white rioters in Manchester, than the black gangs from the ghettos of London.

After all wasn't it them who started all this rioting?

[cc1]

I think those who want a return of National Service are referring to the strict regimes of the 50's, as seen in the TV series I can't remember, that's age for you. In that, the recruits were subjected to a regime which is not allowed now, no-one can even shout at them these days. I doubt the current Armed Forces want these yobs and yobesses, they have enough trouble with the Taliban.