A SOLDIER who stabbed his mother in front of his terrified wife and children walked free from court on Friday.

Gunner Ceiron Hack, 22, threatened to kill his wife Brooke and his parents in a drunken rage in the family home at Netheravon.

When his mother Denise tried to shield Brooke, he grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged it into her hand, severing an artery.

But he was spared jail after Salisbury Crown Court heard that he was “probably the best gunner” in his regiment and due for promotion.

The court heard the attack followed a trivial row with his wife last July, in which Hack punched the TV, before leaving the house for “extra army duties”.

Scared because he had previously head-butted and punched her, Brooke called his parents, who travelled 300 miles to support her.

His father, Keith, went to find him at Tidworth Camp, but Hack came home alone at 2.10am slurring and ranting.

He threatened to kill his mother and his wife, who was holding their baby, then shoved his mother to the floor and grabbed the knife.

Terrified, she shut him in the kitchen, but he smashed the door, pushed her onto the sofa, and again threatened his wife, shouting “I’m f*****d, I have been trying to tell everyone for ages but no-one is listening to me,” and “When Dad gets back, I’m going to put this straight in his throat.”

Denise Hack shielded Brooke, telling her to run and call the police, and begged him: “Don’t hurt anyone else, hurt me.”

He then stabbed her, cutting nerves, tendons and arteries in her hand.

She cried out: “Oh my God, what have you done? You have stabbed me. God, Ceiron, what have you done? Help me!”

Salisbury Journal:

Ceiron Hack attacked his mother Denise, Salisbury Crown Court court heard

 

Hack told his wife to call an ambulance, before dragging his mother outside by the hair and locking the door, saying: “Tell Dad to hurry up so I can stab him in the throat.”

Police arrived to find him in the back garden where he threw down the knife, saying: “I stabbed my mum, I need help.”

Defending, Bob Scott said Hack had no excuse but was now full of remorse and hoped to rekindle his marriage.

He did not accept that he stabbed his mother, suggesting she had grabbed the blade.

Mr Scott described Hack as a “Jekyll and Hyde” — bad-tempered at home, especially when drunk — but “well thought of” at work.

He said: "He has been described by his commanding officer as ‘probably the best gunner in the regiment’.

“If he continues, no doubt he will be promoted.

“It is incredibly frustrating that he can be on one hand, such a good soldier, but on the other hand can succumb to the stormy nature of his personal relationship.”

Mr Scott said Hack had been dry for six months, except on one occasion when he had “got drunk and sliced his own cheek”.

A psychiatric report said there was no evidence of post traumatic stress disorder.

In a victim statement, Denise Hack said her life had been “turned upside down”.

She described having nightmares after the attack and said she was “devastated” by her son’s behaviour, which had had a “massive” financial, emotional and physical impact on her and her family.

Brooke Hack said it had "never felt so frightened" as she did during the attack.

Salisbury Journal:

Brooke Hack was scared of her husband because he had previously headbutted and punched her, the court was told

 

The judge, Susan Evans QC, said it was a shocking and terrifying incident, in which he had “terrorised” his wife.

She said Denise had acted “incredibly courageously throughout the ordeal” and praised her bravery in shielding Brooke and trying to reason with her son.

Hack, of Choulston Close, Netheravon, admitted making death threats, causing grievous bodily harm and damaging property.

He received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, plus 96 hours’ unpaid work, and he must pay £1,270 compensation.

Judge Evans said she was “just persuaded” to suspend the sentence, despite a probation officer recommending an immediate jail term.

Summing-up, Judge Evans said the army said Hack “performed superbly in the field”, “had the potential to become a non-commissioned officer” was “a keen soldier, eager to fulfil your full potential” and “the most effective gunner on the gun line.”

Judge Evans also described Hack as a “valued and talented soldier”.

An immediate prison sentence or any more than 96 hours’ unpaid work would have triggered an automatic dismissal from the armed forces.

It means Hack, who had already been convicted by court martial for battering his wife, will not automatically be kicked out of the army.

He is barred from visiting his parents’ house for a year, and from contacting his wife, except to arrange child contact, indefinitely.