Soldier Josh Mannis pleaded guilty to the charges following an “unprovoked attack” that left a 19-year-old with life-changing injuries
The British Army has been condemned for its support for a “violent thug” who left a teenager with life-changing injuries following an unprovoked assault on him and his aunty.
Lance Corporal Josh Mannis, 23, received a one year and eight month prison sentence, suspended for three years at Downpatrick Crown Court on Wednesday, November 19, following the violent attack on a 19-year-old man and a woman on March 24, 2024, that left the teenager with a severely broken arm and bruises all over his body.
The soldier knocked the man unconscious during the “unprovoked assault” and continued to attack him following this.
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Speaking to Belfast Live following the sentence, the victim’s mum Natalie Quinn expressed her deep disappointment at the “pathetic” sentence that the “violent thug” received, as Mannis gets to walk free despite causing her son life-changing injuries.
She also said she was disappointed to see the support for Mannis from the British Army during the trial, feeling that the suspended sentence was only granted due to a Major speaking in his favour at the trial, an Mannis offering to pay a larger sum in compensation which she says “felt like a bribe”.
Ms Quinn said: “I cannot believe the pathetic sentence that this violent thug received after causing my son life-changing injuries in an horrible and unprovoked assault, where he also attacked and injured his aunty.
“He is a danger and I am shocked that the British Army gave him such strong support throughout the trial, even speaking in his favour to try and get him a lighter sentence. It is disappointing to think this is the kind of person that the army wants representing them.
“To hear in court about how a prison sentence could hurt his career, when my son will have to deal with the impact of the injuries this thug inflicted on him for the rest of his life is disgusting.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Lance Corporal Mannis was convicted of common assault and grievous bodily harm at Downpatrick Crown Court on November 19, 2025. He was sentenced to 20 months and six months concurrently in prison, suspended for three years. He will also pay £10,000 in compensation.”
It has also said that it expects very high standards of behaviour from its personnel, whether they are on or off duty and any service personnel who are found to have committed an offence, including a criminal offence under the Armed Forces Act 2006, are dealt with through the disciplinary process.
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