MAGISTRATES took no action against an ex-soldier who was prosecuted for breaching post-prison release supervision requirements after they heard the traumatic story of his last six months.

Damian Pickup, defending, told the court how Andrew Monks’ life had gone from one crisis to another since his release from prison in April.

He said his client, a withdrawn individual who was discharged from the army in 2007, was receiving help from forces charities.

Mr Pickup said that following his release, Monks had been living at the Salvation Army hostel in Heaton Street, and as he left one day was the subject of a brutal attack by three men who jumped out of a car.

“His jaw was broken in two places, he had 32 stitches in his head,” said Mr Pickup. “He was left unconscious and, if it hadn’t been for a member of the public passing by, he could have bled to death.”

Mr Pickup said Monks was in hospital for two weeks, undergoing three operations on his jaw. When he was discharged, he didn’t want to return to the hostel and went to live with his grandma.

“In June, he was admitted to the mental health ward at Burnley hospital and he was there for 12 weeks,” said Mr Pickup. “The day before he was discharged, he was taken by ambulance to another hospital with pancreatitis. He was given morphine, suffered an allergic reaction and was in a coma for four days.

“When he woke up, members of his family were gathered round his bed having been told to fear the worst. He spent four weeks in hospital.”

Mr Pickup said that when he was released, the police arrested Monks for failing to comply with post-release requirements, but the custody sergeant called the nurse, who said he wasn’t fit to be in the police station, and he was de-arrested.

Announcing they would take no further action over the breach, the chairman of the magistrates urged Monks, 32, of St Peter Street, Blackburn, to take advantage of all the help that was being offered to him.