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Anti-war protest soldier to face military judge
18 Nov 2009A serving soldier who faces up to 10 years in jail for speaking out against the war in Afghanistan is expected before a military judge today to find out if he will continue to be held in an Army jail while he awaits trial.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton is in military custody and facing five charges surrounding his role in an anti-war demonstration in London last month.
The 27-year-old had already been accused of desertion after he went absent without leave from the Army in 2007 rather than serve his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, before handing himself in earlier this year.
He was arrested and charged last week with five offences of disobeying lawful commands and standing orders after he joined the anti-war protest.
Lance Corporal Glenton, of the Royal Logistic Corps, is being held at the Army's military corrective training centre in Colchester, a former prisoner of war camp.
The new charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison in addition to the sentence of up to four years that he could be given if found guilty of desertion.
Lindsey German, convener of the Stop the War Coalition, said: "Joe Glenton is very brave in making his stand. He should be congratulated, not put in prison. There seems to be no objection to the military speaking to the press when they are in support of the war.
"But when soldiers voice the views of majority opinion in opposing the war they are victimised. We will be campaigning to free Joe and to bring the troops home and we believe Gordon Brown should listen to the millions who realise this war is wrong."
