Gang of ‘cowards’ who robbed Afghan veteran from Prince Harry’s military base get jail

A GANG who attacked a soldier from Prince Harry’s military base “like wolves” have been jailed for a total of more than 12 years.

Victim Jack Shilton was left for dead Victim, Jack Shilton, was left for dead [FACEBOOK]

Jack Shilton, 21, who has served in Afghanistan, was beaten unconscious and left for dead by five thugs who stole his wallet and mobile phone.

Two members of the gang were seen “bumping fists” in celeb­ration while they ran away.

Judge Rupert Overbury described the five as acting like “a pack of wolves determined on its prey” when they mugged the Army Air Corps soldier after befriending him on a night out in Ipswich.

The judge told the men: “While your victim has served this country, your country, in Afghanistan, to protect you and the rest of us from the threat of future harm, you have behaved in a cowardly and despicable fashion.

“Each of you is a disgrace to your family and a disgrace to your community.”

Afghan, soldier, veteran, Prince Harry, military, base, jail,Jack Shilton, Afghanistan, Adam Poulter, Jerran Hart,  Matthew Kersey, Jamie DuncanWOLVES: Poulter, right, denied robbery, while Duncan admitted to crime [ARCHANT]

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Shilton, who maintains Apache attack helicopters at Wattisham Airfield, Suffolk, where Prince Harry has been based since 2011, was left unconscious on the pavement after the late night attack on June 6.

Afghan, soldier, veteran, Prince Harry, military, base, jail,Jack Shilton, Afghanistan, Adam Poulter, Jerran Hart,  Matthew Kersey, Jamie DuncanKersey, left, has been jailed for 30 months while Hart, right, denied robbery [ARCHANT]

Adam Poulter, 26, of no fixed address and Jerran Hart, 22, of Ipswich, denied robbing him, but were found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court. Poulter was jailed for three years, nine months and Hart was jailed for three years, six months. Matthew Kersey, 30, of Ipswich, admitted robbery and assault and was jailed for 32 months. Jamie Duncan, 23, of Ipswich, admitted robbery and was jailed for 30 months.

Mitchell Ambrose, 20, of Ipswich pleaded guilty to robbery and will be sentenced later.

Afghan, soldier, veteran, Prince Harry, military, base, jail,Jack Shilton, Afghanistan, Adam Poulter, Jerran Hart,  Matthew Kersey, Jamie DuncanShilton maintains Apache attack helicopters at Wattisham Airfield where Prince Harry has been based [PA]

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