Soldier set to appeal over jail sentence

A SOLDIER from Yorkshire who was jailed by a military court for refusing to return to Afghanistan is due to launch an appeal against his nine-month sentence.

Private Joe Glenton’s legal team confirmed yesterday that official papers are expected to be served today with the Courts Martial Appeal Court in London.

Glenton, a member of the Royal Logistic Corps, was jailed on Friday last week after he faced a court martial in Colchester for going absent without leave and refusing to return to the conflict in Afghanistan for a second tour of duty.

His case worker, John Tipple, from the Essex-based legal firm, Linn and Associates, said: “Joe has taken his moral duty and put it to the fore, and because of that he has been jailed.

“But we do believe there are very strong grounds for an appeal against sentence on a point of law. The military court has ignored the fact that he is suffering from post traumatic stress, and has simply locked him away.

“Joe has been very badly let down by the Army and we intend to fight the sentence all the way.”

The soldier has been demoted from a lance corporal to a private. The 27-year-old, from New Earswick, York, is thought to be the first serving soldier to speak out against the Government’s policy in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.