Caroline Lucas's plea to government to help Brighton soldier Harry Killick

6:30am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

Corporal Harry Killick Corporal Harry Killick

A politician has written to a government minister to plead for urgent help for a soldier who faces up to ten years in jail.

Corporal Harry Killick is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to stealing a gun and ammunition from Territorial Army barracks in Dyke Road, Brighton, in October.

Supporters of the 36-year-old say he stole the gun as part of a suicide bid because he was struggling to cope with post traumatic stress disorder which he suffered as a result of serving in Afghanistan.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has now written to defence minister Mark Francois asking for immediate help for the veteran.

In the letter, Dr Lucas said: “There is considerable evidence that in Cpl Killick’s case the army neglected their responsibility of care for a soldier who had just returned from conflict.

“I’m sure you will agree that there is a lot more that could and should be done to support soldiers like Cpl Killick, and to try to avoid the terrible situation in which he has ended up.

“In the meantime, is there anything that the Ministry of Defence can do to intervene to ensure that Cpl Killick gets the long overdue help and support he needs, rather than a prison sentence?”

Cpl Killick will be sentenced on February 11.

See the latest news headlines from The Argus:

More news from The Argus

Follow @brightonargus

Daily Echo on Facebook - facebook.com/southerndailyecho Like us on Facebook

Google+ Add us to your circles on Google+

Related links

Comments(12)

Cycling commuter says...
8:35am Thu 7 Feb 13

Lets support out armed forces rather than criminalise them. If the story is as it reads then he should be offered support not punishment!

Report this post »

Cave Johnson says...
8:59am Thu 7 Feb 13

Give him help AND a prison sentence.The law was broken after all. You can't just excuse it. He stole a gun! If he was genuinely unstable then he could have killed.

Report this post »

Morpheus says...
9:15am Thu 7 Feb 13

She should also be asking why it was so easy for him to steal the gun!

Report this post »

The Wolfie says...
9:17am Thu 7 Feb 13

Indeed. Whatever the reason he knowingly STOLE a weapon and as such is a CRIMINAL. Stop **** footing around with excuses. Lock him up like any other person convicted of a firearms offence and let him be treated in jail.

Just because he saw action (well hey as a soldier you just might see people getting killed) is NO excuse!

And as for the repetitive stories in the Argus - for goodness sake lets stop make a criminal into a hero.

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
9:20am Thu 7 Feb 13

STOP THE PRESS
Caroline Lucas actually does something useful shocker.

This man needs help not a prison sentence, seeing as the MOD won't even admit that PTSD exists he can expect little support from them.

Report this post »

The Wolfie says...
9:27am Thu 7 Feb 13

AmboGuy wrote:
STOP THE PRESS
Caroline Lucas actually does something useful shocker.

This man needs help not a prison sentence, seeing as the MOD won't even admit that PTSD exists he can expect little support from them.
Rubbish,

http://www.army.mod.
uk/welfare-support/2
3239.aspx

And
WHATEVER the reason he STILL STOLE A GUN!

Report this post »

NickBrt says...
9:36am Thu 7 Feb 13

I agree totally with Amboguy. I cannot believe that Caroline has taken time to support someone who hasn't glued themselves to Top Shop!! Maybe he did glue himnself to Top Shop and the Argus forgot to print it!

Report this post »

Serf says...
10:20am Thu 7 Feb 13

Well done Caroline. PTSD is a big problem. This soldier probably needs a lot of psychiatric help to enable him to reintegrate back into society. If a crime is committed then the offender should stand trial. But let there also be compassion for the mentally ill and urgent help provided. But for the grace of God go you and I.

Report this post »

NickBtn says...
11:25am Thu 7 Feb 13

Hopefully and sentencing (if he is found guilty) will take account of the circumstances.

I agree with Morpheus - questions need to be asked about how he was able to steal a gun. Also how he could steal ammunition. Surely this should be hard to do while in the UK?

Report this post »

Andy R says...
11:49am Thu 7 Feb 13

NickBrt wrote:
I agree totally with Amboguy. I cannot believe that Caroline has taken time to support someone who hasn't glued themselves to Top Shop!! Maybe he did glue himnself to Top Shop and the Argus forgot to print it!
No person's predicament too bad for you to use it to make jibes eh?

Really, really classy......

Report this post »

D360 says...
12:10pm Thu 7 Feb 13

NickBrt wrote:
I agree totally with Amboguy. I cannot believe that Caroline has taken time to support someone who hasn't glued themselves to Top Shop!! Maybe he did glue himnself to Top Shop and the Argus forgot to print it!
She is going to stand for reelection so he needs to be seen to be on the side of decent, selfless people as well as those who glue themselves to Top Shop

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
7:33pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Andy R wrote:
NickBrt wrote:
I agree totally with Amboguy. I cannot believe that Caroline has taken time to support someone who hasn't glued themselves to Top Shop!! Maybe he did glue himnself to Top Shop and the Argus forgot to print it!
No person's predicament too bad for you to use it to make jibes eh?

Really, really classy......
If you don't like it then go elsewhere.

About as classy as someone like yourself who comes onto this forum and tells blatant lies when it suits them eh ?

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree