Private Lynndie England, the American soldier whose name became synonymous with the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal in Iraq, faces around 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to seven charges at a court martial in Texas today.

A complex process of plea-bargaining between England, 22, and Army prosecutors is thought to have taken place to reduce her sentence from the maximum of 16 years.

England was notoriously photographed holding a naked, hooded Iraqi prisoner on a dog lead. In another picture, she was shown smiling and pointing at a naked detainee’s genitals while smoking a cigarette.

The pictures further tarnished the image of America’s military leadership at home and sparked outrage around the world when they were released 12 months ago.

England's lawyers have argued that she and others in her unit were acting on orders from military intelligence agents to "soften up" prisoners for interrogations.

But Army investigators testified during hearings last summer that England said the reservists took the photos while "they were joking around, having some fun".

Wearing a full dress uniform, England made no comment as she walked into the courtroom and during the hearing said nothing but "yes, sir" in response to the judge’s questions.

The defence initially demanded that the judge be changed for the court martial.

Rick Hernandez, defending, asked Colonel James Pohl, the military judge at Fort Hood, to dismiss himself because he had presided over all of the other Abu Ghraib abuse cases. Mr Hernandez said this "gives the appearance of bias".

When the judge said it made sense for one judge to preside over the "factually complicated cases", Mr Hernandez responded that the fact that England was going to enter a guilty plea meant the case would not be "complicated".

Her lawyer asked for the sentence to be decided by a panel of military jurors.

Colonel Pohl will determine England's punishment after a sentencing hearing, starting tomorrow and expected to last several days.

Mr Hernandez told The Washington Post that his client would plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating prisoners and one count of dereliction of duty. In turn Army prosecutors agreed to drop two other charges.

The New York Times, citing two people close to the prosecution as sources, today reported that England will face no more than 30 months in prison in the agreement.

Despite a number of internal and independent reports which categorised the abuse as the isolated acts of a small group, many have accused the government of President Bush of protecting the upper ranks.

Of the eight soldiers charged as a result of the abuse, only one has gone to trial. Five soldiers pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from a dishonourable discharge to eight years in prison.

Specialist Charles Graner, the father of England’s newborn baby, is serving a ten-year prison sentence after a court-martial found him guilty of beating and sexually humiliating prisoners.

If England is sent to prison, her son will live with her mother and sister.

Times Recommends

• 'New York has lost its edge'
• Copenhagen will fail – and quite right too
• More than 17,000 new underwater species found