Thug who murdered war vet in 'cruel' attack jailed for life

The 32-year-old will serve at least 11 years

- Sentinel Reporter

A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for life for the murder of an Iraq War veteran who he punched three times in a drink and drug-fuelled street attack which led to his death 10 months later.

Gregory Twigg was sentenced to a minimum term of 11 years after a court heard how he landed the ‘powerful and cowardly’ punches on medically-retired British Army veteran Lee Woodward, below, in Trade Street, Stoke.

The attack on the night of June 24 2022 left the former soldier severely brain damaged and he died in hospital on April 26 2023.

Twigg, who was already serving an eight-year and three-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in September 2022 to grievous bodily harm with intent, was found guilty of murder by jurors at a second trial which ended in July this year.

At his sentencing hearing Twigg was criticised by the judge for “stringing out” the case by pleading not guilty to murder, extending and amplifying the anguish of his victim’s partner and stepdaughters.

In victim impact statements read to the court, relatives of the 39-year-old victim, who came from Meir, described their feelings of pain and anguish during Mr Woodward's ‘deterioration’ in hospital.