Soldier who committed domestic violence given suspended sentence due to his ‘promotion prospects’

January 27, 2016, Admin, EVB Analysis,

Ceiron Hack has a history of domestic violence. In July of 2015, after Ceiron made the choice to punch the television following an argument, his wife Brooke phoned Ceiron's parents for support. They drove 300 miles.

They drove 300 miles because Ceiron has form for head-butting and punching Brooke.

Ceiron returned home at 2 am. Drunk. He proceeded to threaten to kill his mother and, Brooke, who was holding an infant, and then stabbed his mother in the hand cutting tendons and nerves. He also severed an artery. Ceiron proceeded to drag his mother out of the house by her hair whilst threatening to stab his father (who was not in the house at the time) in the throat.

Ceiron walked out of court with a two year suspended sentence because: "he was “probably the best gunner” in his regiment and due for promotion". He is also required to pay £1,270 compensation and do 96 hours of community service. The suspended sentence was given by Judge Susan Evans, despite probation services making it clear that a custodial sentence was necessary.

This is the reality for many victims of domestic violence within the UK. Despite a clear history of violent behaviour, a man is given a non-custodial sentence prioritising his career over the safety of women and children.

Cieron's defence attorney used the myth of "Jekyll and Hyde" to elide Cieron's behaviour:

“It is incredibly frustrating that he can be on one hand, such a good soldier, but on the other hand can succumb to the stormy nature of his personal relationship.”

Cieron and Brooke's relationship was not "stormy". Cieron is a deeply abusive man who makes a choice to be violent. If Cieron can refrain from violence in his workplace, where hyper-masculinity and violence are encouraged, then he can refrain from violence in the home. Men who commit domestic violence do so because they believe they are entitled to behave that way - not because they have "anger management" issues. If it were actually about anger, then Cieron would have a history of randomly assaulting people at work and in public. He doesn't. Nor does he have post-traumatic stress disorder. Cieron's behaviour is absolutely typical for perpetrators.

And, frankly, the very last person I want in the Armed Forces is a man who thinks it is acceptable to head butt his wife or stab his mother in the hand. A man with a history of domestic violence should not be allowed near guns. Ever. Yet, Judge Evans decided that a man with a history of violence was a "valued and talented soldier” and full of potential to rise in the ranks. She deliberately chose a sentence that would not institute an immediate dismissal from the army.

Male soldiers are two - four times more likely to commit domestic violence than the general population. This isn't because of PTSD. It's because of hyper-masculinity, violence and male entitlement that is endemic in our culture and that is actively encouraged by the Armed Forces. Access to firearms increases the likelihood of the murder of a current or former partner. A zero tolerance policy on domestic violence should be the outcome of these, frequent, cases within the Armed Forces and criminal courts. Instead, the judiciary supports the conducive context for domestic violence by privileging a man's career over the safety of his family.

Cieron Hack is a violent man. His sentencing should reflect the crimes he chose to commit, not his desire to play soldier.

 

 

 

 

Domestic Abuse, domestic violence, male violence, PTSD

‹ When therapy goes too far I was blamed for his violence ›