This is Grimsby -- A FRIEND of a man who was knocked unconscious by a former soldier in Cleethorpes has spoken of how she feared he was dead. Francis Weldon was repeatedly punched and kicked by Keith Wells, 28, of Fairway in Waltham, outside the Reflex bar in the resort on August 17. Francis, 26, was in Cleethorpes visiting friends and his four-year-old daughter at the time, after travelling South from his home in Greenock, Scotland. His friend, who does not wish to be named, said she thought Francis was dead and believes he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time", and insists they had consumed just "four or five drinks". In tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph, Francis' friend reveals more about the attack which resulted in him spending four months on a liquid diet. As reported, Keith Wells was serving in Afghanistan where he saw shocking scenes of "horrific injuries" when he was told that his 30-year-old wife had been killed in a crash on the A18 in April 2012.
His young daughter, a passenger in the car at the time, was trapped and suffered serious injuries. He was later flown from Afghanistan to be at her bedside.
During his time as a soldier, Wells, who had been in the 1st battalion of the Grenadier Guards, had to treat those who were very seriously injured in combat, a court heard.
He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the court was told.
Wells admitted assaulting Francis Weldon, causing actual bodily harm, on August 17.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Wells became involved in a confrontation outside the Reflex bar in Cleethorpes after midnight.
He went over to Mr Weldon and told him to back off after an earlier incident in which two people suffered "bullying" and name-calling by another group.
Mr Weldon had made comments towards the couple and was being "disrespectful
and aggressive", claimed Mr Welch.
Wells grabbed Mr Weldon by the throat, pushed him backwards and told him to go away. He hoped this would "intimidate" Mr Weldon in to leaving the other two alone.
He punched Mr Weldon in the face four or five times in quick succession, knocking him to the ground and leaving him unconscious.
He later kicked and stamped on him during a "momentary loss of control".
He later admitted: "I am ex-military, so I know the consequences of using full force."
Mr Weldon suffered injuries including three chipped teeth and a black eye.
"The complainant was unconscious on the floor for a significant period of time before people came to his assistance," said Mr Welch.
Nigel Sloane, mitigating, said Wells had shown remorse and made admissions.
He served in the Army as a front-line medical combat guardsman during two tours of Afghanistan and had seen "horrific injuries" which it was his job to help treat.
He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and, after leaving the Army, was now unemployed.
Wells was now the carer for his six-year-old daughter, Lily-Mae Wells, who was in the car when her mother was killed.
He had been given a fixed penalty for a public order matter in November 2010.
That incident happened after he returned from his tours of Afghanistan.
He had been drinking and was stumbling about when he came to the attention of the police, said Mr Sloane.
Judge John Dowse told Wells that he "acted completely out of control" after drinking heavily.
"This was a sustained attack but this offence was completely out of your general character," said Judge Dowse.
"There are some worrying signs about you, probably brought in when you were representing this country on two tours of Afghanistan."
Wells was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £650 compensation, £535 costs and a Government-imposed £100 victims' surcharge.
*Flown home from front-line to become a lone parent within 24 hours*
During his medical duties in Afghanistan, ex-soldier Keith Wells dealt with amputations, gun-shot wounds, fatalities and decapitations.
He saw people in pieces and with their faces missing, Grimsby Crown Court was told in a report.
Wells, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, appeared before a judge to admit assaulting a man following a confrontation on a night out.
As reported in the Grimsby Telegraph, his wife Kay Wells was killed in a crash on the A18, on a sharp bend between the B1203 Ashby Hill junction and the Waltham Road turn-off.
Police believed at the time that she lost control on the bend. No other vehicle was involved in the incident.
The couple were separated at the time of the accident but still married.
Psychiatric and pre-sentence reports given to the court revealed that the couple's daughter, Lily-Mae, was in the car at the time of the accident and suffered the trauma of being trapped there for some time afterwards because she could not move.
She had to be cut free and suffered serious injuries, including head and neck injuries, a fractured femur, cuts and bruises, the court was told.
Wells was flown back from Afghanistan to be at his daughter's bedside and found himself becoming a lone parent within 24 hours and not knowing what to expect, the reports said.
The girl suffered flashbacks and anxiety problems, the court was told.
Wells, who joined the Army in 2007 and did his basic training at Catterick, was given a compassionate discharge from the Army last year.
Combat Stress is a charity specialising in the care of veterans' mental health. It is currently treating 12 people aged between 33 and 89 in North East Lincolnshire.
The condition can cause everything from nightmares, flashbacks and insomnia, to severe depression and anxiety disorders.
Mike Burrows, regional welfare officer for Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire, said: "On average, veterans wait 13 years after leaving the Armed Forces before contacting Combat Stress. The sooner that a veteran with psychological injuries seeks help, the sooner the sufferer can receive the right treatment in the right environment to help them rebuild their life."
For advice and information from the charity, call the 24-hour helpline on 0800 1381619.
*Follow us on Facebook and Twitter* Reported by This is 7 hours ago.
His young daughter, a passenger in the car at the time, was trapped and suffered serious injuries. He was later flown from Afghanistan to be at her bedside.
During his time as a soldier, Wells, who had been in the 1st battalion of the Grenadier Guards, had to treat those who were very seriously injured in combat, a court heard.
He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the court was told.
Wells admitted assaulting Francis Weldon, causing actual bodily harm, on August 17.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Wells became involved in a confrontation outside the Reflex bar in Cleethorpes after midnight.
He went over to Mr Weldon and told him to back off after an earlier incident in which two people suffered "bullying" and name-calling by another group.
Mr Weldon had made comments towards the couple and was being "disrespectful
and aggressive", claimed Mr Welch.
Wells grabbed Mr Weldon by the throat, pushed him backwards and told him to go away. He hoped this would "intimidate" Mr Weldon in to leaving the other two alone.
He punched Mr Weldon in the face four or five times in quick succession, knocking him to the ground and leaving him unconscious.
He later kicked and stamped on him during a "momentary loss of control".
He later admitted: "I am ex-military, so I know the consequences of using full force."
Mr Weldon suffered injuries including three chipped teeth and a black eye.
"The complainant was unconscious on the floor for a significant period of time before people came to his assistance," said Mr Welch.
Nigel Sloane, mitigating, said Wells had shown remorse and made admissions.
He served in the Army as a front-line medical combat guardsman during two tours of Afghanistan and had seen "horrific injuries" which it was his job to help treat.
He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and, after leaving the Army, was now unemployed.
Wells was now the carer for his six-year-old daughter, Lily-Mae Wells, who was in the car when her mother was killed.
He had been given a fixed penalty for a public order matter in November 2010.
That incident happened after he returned from his tours of Afghanistan.
He had been drinking and was stumbling about when he came to the attention of the police, said Mr Sloane.
Judge John Dowse told Wells that he "acted completely out of control" after drinking heavily.
"This was a sustained attack but this offence was completely out of your general character," said Judge Dowse.
"There are some worrying signs about you, probably brought in when you were representing this country on two tours of Afghanistan."
Wells was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £650 compensation, £535 costs and a Government-imposed £100 victims' surcharge.
*Flown home from front-line to become a lone parent within 24 hours*
During his medical duties in Afghanistan, ex-soldier Keith Wells dealt with amputations, gun-shot wounds, fatalities and decapitations.
He saw people in pieces and with their faces missing, Grimsby Crown Court was told in a report.
Wells, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, appeared before a judge to admit assaulting a man following a confrontation on a night out.
As reported in the Grimsby Telegraph, his wife Kay Wells was killed in a crash on the A18, on a sharp bend between the B1203 Ashby Hill junction and the Waltham Road turn-off.
Police believed at the time that she lost control on the bend. No other vehicle was involved in the incident.
The couple were separated at the time of the accident but still married.
Psychiatric and pre-sentence reports given to the court revealed that the couple's daughter, Lily-Mae, was in the car at the time of the accident and suffered the trauma of being trapped there for some time afterwards because she could not move.
She had to be cut free and suffered serious injuries, including head and neck injuries, a fractured femur, cuts and bruises, the court was told.
Wells was flown back from Afghanistan to be at his daughter's bedside and found himself becoming a lone parent within 24 hours and not knowing what to expect, the reports said.
The girl suffered flashbacks and anxiety problems, the court was told.
Wells, who joined the Army in 2007 and did his basic training at Catterick, was given a compassionate discharge from the Army last year.
Combat Stress is a charity specialising in the care of veterans' mental health. It is currently treating 12 people aged between 33 and 89 in North East Lincolnshire.
The condition can cause everything from nightmares, flashbacks and insomnia, to severe depression and anxiety disorders.
Mike Burrows, regional welfare officer for Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire, said: "On average, veterans wait 13 years after leaving the Armed Forces before contacting Combat Stress. The sooner that a veteran with psychological injuries seeks help, the sooner the sufferer can receive the right treatment in the right environment to help them rebuild their life."
For advice and information from the charity, call the 24-hour helpline on 0800 1381619.
*Follow us on Facebook and Twitter* Reported by This is 7 hours ago.