A man described as “raging” has been sentenced to prison for fatally attacking a British war veteran in a violent incident influenced by alcohol and drugs. Gregory Twigg, 32, from Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, assaulted Lee Woodward, a medically retired veteran, while he was out with his fiancée, Kate Griffin. The attack occurred after a confrontation with Twigg, who was reportedly intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine.
The altercation left Woodward with severe brain damage, and he passed away in the hospital ten months later. Twigg had been serving a previous jail term for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. A jury found him guilty of murder in a subsequent trial, resulting in a life sentence with a minimum of 11 years in prison.
Surveillance footage captured Twigg assaulting Woodward, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious. Despite fleeing the scene, Twigg was apprehended shortly afterward. Statements from Woodward’s family highlighted the emotional toll of his decline in the hospital.
Twigg admitted to using drugs and alcohol and claimed he acted in self-defense, intending only to give Woodward a black eye. However, his actions resulted in fatal consequences. The court learned of Twigg’s history of violent offenses, including previous convictions for battery and threats to kill.
During sentencing, the judge criticized Twigg for prolonging the legal process by denying the murder charge, causing further distress to the victim’s family. The judge questioned Twigg’s sincerity in expressing remorse and emphasized the severity of the sustained assault on Woodward. Defense counsel acknowledged Twigg’s remorse and his understanding of the consequences of his violent behavior.