A British Army officer who gave an unlawful order to punish Iraqi looters at an aid camp today denied telling his men "to beast" the detainees.

Major Dan Taylor told a court martial in Osnabrueck, Germany, that he did not issue the order to make the Iraqis run three miles with crates of milk on their heads in a military practice known as "beasting".

The evidence was heard at the trial of three British soldiers - Corporal Daniel Kenyon, 33, Lance Corporal Mark Cooley, 25, and Lance Corporal Darren Larkin, 30 - accused of abusing and assaulting prisoners at Camp Bread Basket, near Basra.

Joseph Giret, representing Corporal Kenyon, said: "Did you order Sergeant Major Brown to beast the Iraqis in the following way, once captured and given their pep talk that they should be asked to run around the inside wall of the camp, two to three miles, running with milk boxes above their heads? Did you give them that order?"

Major Taylor denied the accusation, saying: "I wouldn’t have permitted it, I didn’t brief him to do that."

Major Taylor also denied allowing his soldiers to take "trophy photographs" of the captured Iraqis.

Mr Giret asked Major Taylor whether he accepted the blame for any of the events which occurred at Camp Bread Basket.

Major Taylor said: “I do not accept the blame for what happened.”

Mr Giret added: “I say you are prepared to let these soldiers be sacrificial lambs so your career can be saved.”

Major Taylor responded: “No sir.”

The three soldiers are accused of having abused detained Iraqi looters at a camp near Basra in May 2003, weeks after the regime of Saddam Hussein was ousted by coalition troops.

Lance Corporal Cooley and Corporal Kenyon have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Lance Corporal Larkin has admitted one charge of assaulting an unknown male at the camp, but denied another charge.

The three men, who are being tried by a 'board' of seven officers, face terms of up to ten years in jail if they are found guilty.

The men were arrested and charged after a photo lab in Britain received a film for developing which contained images of abuse. Several appear to show naked detainees being forced to simulate sex acts.

The phots were produced as evidence on Tuesday at the opening of the court martial of the three Fusiliers.

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