General to face court martial for ‘fraud’

A BRITISH Army general has become the most senior officer to face court martial for more than 200 years.

Maj Gen Nickwelch, 57, who was deputy head of the Army until he left in 2018, is accused of fraud.

The charges are thought to centre around a £50,000 claim he made for his child’s private school allowance under the Mod’s Continuity of Education Allowance scheme.

Sources claim the fact the school was only eight miles away from his home was an aggravating factor.

Welch’s barrister reportedly intends to have the case kicked out before next year’s trial.

In 1815, Lt Gen Sir John Murray, who fought Napoleon, was convicted of abandoning his guns at Tarragona.