I broke my girlfriend’s arm in self defence, says Army colonel
Afghanistan veteran tells court martial hearing that he suffers from PTSD
A SENIOR British Army officer posted as defence attaché to Indonesia broke his girlfriend’s arm in “self defence” after she “lost control” and began attacking him, a court martial has heard.
Colonel Simon Winkworth said he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after tours of Afghanistan and believed he was “in immediate danger” during the altercation with Christie Hudson.
The Royal Engineers officer, who played a leading role in building Britain’s Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, was described as being in a “high anxiety state” during the September 2014 incident.
Colchester Military Court yesterday heard that Col Winkworth put his partner, a major in the Australian Army, in a restraint hold after she ran towards him, raising her fists.
Col Winkworth, now retired and aged 52, admits causing the injury during the early-morning row at the couple’s home in Jakarta, but denies grievous bodily harm.
The court heard the pair had a turbulent relationship and often rowed after Miss Hudson, 41, became jealous that she had never been deployed, while he had.
She had also been treated for mental health problems herself and used alcohol as a coping mechanism, the court heard. Describing the incident, Col Winkworth said: “Christie came out of the room… clutching my laptop. She threw the laptop to the floor.
“I remember her brandishing a particular statue that I’d been given by a group of servicemen. She was threatening to damage everything in the house.
“I don’t think she was specific, but she was threatening to tear everything apart.
“I think she had completely lost control. She was raging, screaming, gesticulating and as she came towards me, she was raising her fist.”
During a police interview soon after the incident, Col Winkworth told officers that he had acted in self defence.
He said: “I felt scared of Christie, but also ashamed because of my gender and feared I wouldn’t be believed.”
“I thought she was going to hit me, I was afraid. I heard a click – my immediate thought was that she had torn one of her digits.
“I believe that I acted in self defence, I believed I was in immediate danger.”
Describing how he grabbed Miss Hudson, Col Winkworth said: “We’re talking about a matter of seconds between her about to advance – I believed she was about to punch me… and so I grabbed her.
“I placed her in a restraint hold – it was a restraint technique that I have been taught.
“It’s impossible to restrain someone without a degree of pain. I intended no damage.”
The court heard how at the time of the incident, Col Winkworth had been signed off sick for three months due to his mental health.
He reported having symptoms of stress, anxiety and sleep problems following a tour to Afghanistan in 2011.
The trial continues.