MACHETE MANIAC’S FAMILY FUN DAYS
Army brute tastes freedom after sickening attack on comrade
SAVAGE Scots soldier John Norwood grins for the camera on a day out just two years after he was jailed for a machete attack on a comrade.
Victim James Warnock suffered severe injuries and a source close to him said the decision to let Norwood out so soon was “baffling.”
A SCOTS colour sergeant jailed for a machete attack on a comrade is enjoying days of freedom just a little over two years into his sentence – as his victim fights for compensation for his life-changing injuries. These exclusive images reveal the shocking extent of the violence inflicted by John Norwood on fellow Scots soldier James Warnock at barracks in England. The attack saw James’s shoulder almost sliced to the bone and the tendons in his hand severed – putting an end to the Army career he loved. Now sources close to the victim have slammed “soft justice” jail chiefs for allowing violent Norwood – who has a previous conviction for killing his uncle –to enjoy day release so soon into his eight-year sentence. Norwood – who rose to the position of colour sergeant in 1st Battalion the Scots Guards – was stationed at Mons barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, when he attacked James with a machete in July 2015.
The 41-year-old’s trial at Portsmouth Crown Court heard the assault was sparked by a confrontation between the men, both from Glasgow, at a pub, when Norwood slapped James, 27, who was two ranks below him, around the face.
The court heard James retaliated after being confronted by an enraged Norwood and punched him twice, knocking him to the ground.
Norwood later sought out his victim at the barracks and launched a 5am attack with a machete he had taken from the stores.
He told the court: “My pride was dented, my ego was dented. I didn’t want to harm anyone. I made a reckless decision, a foolish decision.”
Norwood was jailed in October 2016 for wounding with intent after being
The hand injury was the reason for his discharge SOURCE CLOSE TO VICTIM JAMES
cleared at a previous trial of attempted murder. The attack saw James medically discharged from the Army. Dad-of-two Norwood was jailed for 18 months in 1996 for the culpable homicide of his uncle Matthew Houston, 35, who died after he fell from a balcony in Glasgow during a fight with his nephew.
The trial heard he was not judged to be wholly responsible for Matthew’s death because the victim refused medical treatment for his injuries.
The jail sentence put an end to Norwood’s aspirations of becoming an actor, having appeared in a number of BBC productions, including Bumping the Odds and Irvine Welsh’s Acid House. Norwood was jailed again for two years in 2000 for three counts of wounding after a pub fight in Burnley, Lancashire. It’s understood he was allowed to join the Army a few years later because his convictions were considered “spent”. James is now suing the Ministry of Defence, saying Norwood should not have been allowed to join the Army given his convictions for violent offences. In legal papers, James – a veteran of two tours of Afghanistan – said Army chiefs are “vicariously liable” because they failed to identify the threat posed by Norwood.
He also accuses the Army of negligence, saying a proper risk assessment should have identified the danger of giving Norwood access to the storeroom.
James told the Record he was unable to comment due to the ongoing legal case with the MoD. But a source close to the victim yesterday slammed prison chiefs for allowing Norwood day release so soon.
Pictures put on social media by one of Norwood’s relatives show him enjoying a day out in March at Newcastle’s Inflate Space and on a day at a park and petting zoo last month.
The source said: “It’s bad enough knowing Norwood is probably only going to serve half his sentence but to think you can go on days out like that so soon with his history of violence is baffling.
“I’d be very interested to know what the criteria is for approving these days out.” The source added: “James didn’t realise how bad his shoulder injury was at the time as he was wearing a T-shirt and in shock as he lost a lot of blood. It has healed but he is scarred for life.
“It’s the hand injury which causes the most difficulty and was ultimately the reason for his medical discharge as it affects the way he holds a weapon.
“All of the nerves and tendons were cut in his left hand and unfortunately he’s left handed. He still has limited movement in it.”
The Prison Service said: “All offenders are carefully risk assessed before being considered for release on temporary licence which has been shown to reduce reoffending. There are conditions that offenders on temporary licence have to obey and if they do not follow these, their licence can be revoked and they can be returned to a closed prison.”