Former soldier who fought Isil in court on terror charge

A FORMER British soldier who volunteered to fight Isil with a British Government-backed Kurdish militia has appeared in court charged with terrorism offences in a legal first.

James Matthews, 43, appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court yesterday accused of “attending a place or places in Iraq and Syria where instruction or training was provided for purposes connected to the commission or preparation of terrorism”.

The court heard the case was the first time terrorism legislation had been used to charge a person accused of fighting against Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil).

Joel Bennathan, defending, said: “I’m reasonably confident this is the first time terrorism legislation has been deployed to seek the conviction of someone who is assisting a group also being assisted by the UK government. What we have not had any guidance on is whether groups of men who are fighting with air cover from the French, weapons used by the US, and support from the UK forces and coffers also fall under the Terrorism Act.”

Mr Matthews, of Dalston, east London, indicated he would plead not guilty during the 15-minute hearing and he was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey on March 1.