A FORMER soldier who racially abused a black policeman - one of four officers sent to his home after a report of domestic violence - has had his jail term cut.
The Criminal Appeal Court was told David Watson suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, after having served in the first Gulf War.
Watson, 34, of Grasmere Road, Chester, was jailed for 12 months at the Chester Crown Court in February, after pleading guilty to racially aggravated common assault.
The sentencing judge concluded the common assault alone merited a penalty of six months, but doubled it because of the racist element.
Mrs Justice Dobbs, sitting with Lord Justice Gage and Judge Mettyear, this week cut the overall term to nine months, by halving the assault term after noting no actual physical violence was used by Watson.
But she retained the six months for the racist element, agreeing with the sentencing judge that this type of 'vile racist abuse' would not be tolerated, even bearing in mind Watson's disability.
The officers went to his home late on July 29 last year, following a report of domestic violence.
The judge said Watson opened the door and they could see blood on him and in the hallway, while his partner could be heard crying.
He was highly agitated. The judge said Watson's partner made it clear she had cut her hand accidently with a kitchen knife.
Meanwhile, the black policeman tried to calm him down but his agitation increased and he lunged at the constable.
After being hand-cuffed, he said: 'Are you happy now, you black bastard', before later making monkey noises and using a mocking Jamaican accent.
