Three police officers have been charged with assaulting a soldier who had been praised for bravery against the Taleban in Afghanistan, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said today.

Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall, 24, was allegedly attacked by the officers after being arrested during a night out in Wigan in July last year.

L/Cpl Aspinall, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was charged and convicted on two counts of attacking police officers.

But he won an appeal to have the verdict quashed at Liverpool Crown Court last November.

Greater Manchester Police officers Sergeant Stephen Russell, Pc Richard Kelsall and Special Constable Peter Lightfoot, who are all based in Wigan, are charged with assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Special Constable Lightfoot also faces a charge of perjury.

An IPCC spokesman said: “The charges relate to an allegation that excessive force was used during the arrest of 24-year-old Bolton man Mark Aspinall in Wigan town centre in the early hours of Sunday July 27.

“The IPCC managed the Greater Manchester Police investigation into the incident.” The three officers will appear before Oldham Magistrates’ Court on in July.

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