A FORMER serviceman attacked a man who had stood as a guarantor for a £1,500 loan when he turned up on his doorstep with concerns over repayments.

Aaron Skipsey dodged a prison sentence after a court heard how he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the horrors of war.

The illness caused the 26-year-old to act "irrationally, impulsively or with anger", Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, said at Teesside Crown Court.

Skipsey, of Carnaby Road, Darlington, admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and was given a seven-month suspended prison sentence.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said he lost his temper when there was "loud and aggressive" banging at his home, and Skipsey "feared what might happen to him" when he saw the victim and another person on his doorstep.

At the time of the incident last May, he was the subject of a suspended sentence imposed after a fracas between football supporters in Greater Manchester in 2016.

Mr Constantine said Darlington fan Skipsey "reacted in the way the army had taught him to" when he threw a pole at a man who was threatening him with a knife.

Judge Bourne-Arton suspended the prison sentence for two years, and told Skipsey: "Any more offences in that time and I will deal with you by locking you up."

He added: "You have served your country well with some bravery, serving on two occasions in Afghanistan.

"Quite clearly, as a result of your experience, you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and were medically discharged.

"That has a number of symptoms, and the sufferer resorts to alcohol if not drugs to cope, and people behave emotionally, impulsively or in anger, and that's what you did on this occasion.

"When he came around – not unreasonably – looking for satisfaction that you would make the loan payments, you attacked him.

"You originally claimed self-defence, but reneged on that, quite rightly."

The court heard that Skipsey's illness had gone undiagnosed, but he was now getting help from several organisations including veterans' charity Walking With The Wounded.

Mr Constantine said there are plans for more counselling sessions, and there has been no repeat of offending since last year's incident.

"He is a man who tells me he has now lost everything," he added. "His relationship has now come to an end because of the position he has found himself in by his own actions, and arguably by the inactions of others who could have helped.

"There are a number of organisations who are now helping."