A Fife soldier awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan has been ordered to pay £500 compensation to the girlfriend he battered just a month before receiving the accolade.
Christopher Reynolds (26), of Letham Gait, Dalgety Bay, walked free from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Thursday, despite previously admitting a vicious assault on ex-partner Catherine Aitken at the home they shared in Kirkcaldy last year.
One of four Black Watch soldiers presented with the MC by the Queen for courageous acts in Helmand, marksman Reynolds was praised for killing 32 rebels including a Taliban warlord from nearly two kilometres away a feat still believed to be the longest ever fatal rifle shot recorded in the conflict.
But the man many hailed a ‘hero’ was unable to walk away from court with his head held high after Sheriff James Williamson condemned the “nasty” domestic assault he carried out last summer.
Reynolds pled guilty to punching Miss Aitken and hurling a glass at her after the pair had a furious row at their house in Atholl Terrace on May 26, 2010. He also admitted breaching a specific bail condition not to contact Miss Aitken.
Asked if he had any remorse or whether or not he intended to hand back his medal of honour when leaving court, Reynolds made no comment and was whisked away by a waiting car accompanied by an army officer.Support from armyThe court previously heard how the father-of-one, who is estranged from his wife, exploded into violence after Miss Aitken, a youth worker, told him she was becoming more and more concerned about his temper.
Reynolds then repeatedly punched her on the head, knocking her to the ground, before he went on to throw a glass at her as his anger increased.
She called police and he was taken into custody.
The pair are no longer in contact and although Miss Aitken (29) was not at court, she previously said she is “looking forward to moving on with the rest of her life.”
Six months ago, Sheriff Williamson had deferred sentence on Reynolds for good behaviour and to find out if he had received the support and help he needed from the army.
Reynolds’ solicitor Kelly Howe told the court on Thursday the army had put measures in place to assist her client and gave Sheriff Williamson a letter detailing that support, although she said her client was not keen for that to be divulged fully in court.
Ms Howe added Reynolds is expected to remain in the army “all being well,” although it is understood he is seeking a transfer.Possibility of prisonAfter reading the letter, Sheriff Williamson left Reynolds in no doubt as to how seriously he viewed the attack.
He said, “I think I made it clear to you at the time that the nature of the assault is such that it could attract a custodial sentence.”
However, the sheriff said Reynolds had appeared to take the opportunity given to him to seek help and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to Miss Aitken.
Sheriff Williamson went on to admonish Reynolds on the bail aggravation.
He said, “There are also a number of other factors which I have commented on in the past, but won’t mention in court today, which desist me from sending you to jail.”Three-day watchThe court previously heard how Reynolds’ mental health apparently deteriorated “due to the strain of warfare” after serving as a corporal with The Black Watch in the Babaji district of Helmand from April to September 2009.
Friends also suggested Reynolds had a difficult time coping with the bloodshed and some of the things he witnessed in Afghanistan.
Sniper Reynolds was commended for keeping watch on a shop rooftop for three days as he waited for the perfect conditions to shoot a Taliban warlord known as Mula, who masterminded a string of attacks on Allied troops, in 2009.
He worked out factors such as wind speed and trajectory of his bullet.
When he received his medal, Reynolds spoke of his pride.
“It is the longest recorded kill in Afghanistan,” he said.