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Canadian soldiers accused of beating up expat
Andreas Avgousti, Sunday Mail (Cyprus), 2 Mar 08
Article link - .pdf permalink
VIOLENCE unleashed upon the civilian population by foreign soldiers is fast becoming a problem for authorities.
In Paphos on Saturday night, two Canadian army soldiers are accused of beating up Briton James Sanford, 32, a resident of Paphos.
This is the latest of a string of similar events, happening around the island after soldiers hit the town at night.
Sanford was walking down Ayios Antonios road in Kato Paphos with his wife when the soldiers, in Cyprus for decompression following service in Afghanistan, started to make advances on the woman.
“Two of them crossed the street to where we were, one put his hand around her and spat at her feet.”
Sanford reacted, an exchange of words followed, “and then one of the soldiers hit me on the head with a bottle”, Sanford told the Sunday Mail.
Police eventually appeared on the scene, and Sanford was taken to Paphos General Hospital for treatment.
“I have 12 stitches on my face and my left eye is swollen.
“If my wife wasn’t there to shout for help I don’t know what could have happened to me.”
Canadian military police arrived at the hospital too and, according to Sanford, “showed concern and a willingness to do something about it.”
Sanford then went to Paphos police to give a statement and returned there yesterday to identify his two attackers.
Police yesterday confirmed details of the incident.
The soldiers were then arrested and taken to the station where they were charged in writing and released.
They are due to appear before a district court tomorrow.
Less than 24 hours after he had been beaten up, Sanford approached the event with equanimity and graciousness: “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The two soldiers who beat me up are not representative of the Canadian army as a whole.
“You are bound to get a few bad apples,” he added.
Last May, two British Royal Marines returning from Afghanistan were convicted of causing actual bodily harm following a disagreement over payment of a taxi fare after a night out.
And last month nine soldiers from the British Bases were charged in connection with a brawl which left five soldiers and two Greek Cypriots injured. The men had just returned from duty in Iraq.
Ayia Napa was already out of bounds for British soldiers during the last summer period and has been for some years.
Following a new decision by the municipality of Ayia Napa, any club or bar located in the popular tourist resort’s town centre has been off limits to British military personnel for at least ten years.
Photo below of Brit expat © Le Journal
Canadian soldiers accused of beating up expat
Andreas Avgousti, Sunday Mail (Cyprus), 2 Mar 08
Article link - .pdf permalink
VIOLENCE unleashed upon the civilian population by foreign soldiers is fast becoming a problem for authorities.
In Paphos on Saturday night, two Canadian army soldiers are accused of beating up Briton James Sanford, 32, a resident of Paphos.
This is the latest of a string of similar events, happening around the island after soldiers hit the town at night.
Sanford was walking down Ayios Antonios road in Kato Paphos with his wife when the soldiers, in Cyprus for decompression following service in Afghanistan, started to make advances on the woman.
“Two of them crossed the street to where we were, one put his hand around her and spat at her feet.”
Sanford reacted, an exchange of words followed, “and then one of the soldiers hit me on the head with a bottle”, Sanford told the Sunday Mail.
Police eventually appeared on the scene, and Sanford was taken to Paphos General Hospital for treatment.
“I have 12 stitches on my face and my left eye is swollen.
“If my wife wasn’t there to shout for help I don’t know what could have happened to me.”
Canadian military police arrived at the hospital too and, according to Sanford, “showed concern and a willingness to do something about it.”
Sanford then went to Paphos police to give a statement and returned there yesterday to identify his two attackers.
Police yesterday confirmed details of the incident.
The soldiers were then arrested and taken to the station where they were charged in writing and released.
They are due to appear before a district court tomorrow.
Less than 24 hours after he had been beaten up, Sanford approached the event with equanimity and graciousness: “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The two soldiers who beat me up are not representative of the Canadian army as a whole.
“You are bound to get a few bad apples,” he added.
Last May, two British Royal Marines returning from Afghanistan were convicted of causing actual bodily harm following a disagreement over payment of a taxi fare after a night out.
And last month nine soldiers from the British Bases were charged in connection with a brawl which left five soldiers and two Greek Cypriots injured. The men had just returned from duty in Iraq.
Ayia Napa was already out of bounds for British soldiers during the last summer period and has been for some years.
Following a new decision by the municipality of Ayia Napa, any club or bar located in the popular tourist resort’s town centre has been off limits to British military personnel for at least ten years.
Photo below of Brit expat © Le Journal