Parents 'robbed' of soldier son

The 22-year-old reservist was attached to Belle Vue barracks in Manchester

The father of a reservist soldier killed by a rogue Afghan policeman said his son will have "died in vain" if UK troops are withdrawn from the country.

Cpl Steven Boote, 22, from Birkenhead, Wirral, who served with the Royal Military Police, died with four other servicemen in Nad-e-Ali on Tuesday.

In a statement issued on their behalf, parents Tony and Margaret said they were "extremely proud" of their son.

They said they felt "robbed" of him but knew he was doing what he believed in.

The soldier was in the Territorial Army (TA) based at Manchester's Belle Vue barracks.

Family friend Pam Mullin, 43, spoke on behalf of Cpl Boote's parents and his girlfriend Emma Murray, who were "too devastated" to talk.

No parents could be more proud of a son Parents' statement

On the subject of the possibility of pulling troops out of Afghanistan, she said: "Steven's dad believes the 230 troops would have died in vain if that happens."

Away from his role in the TA, Cpl Boote worked as a security guard in Tesco in Bromborough, Wirral, and was a motorbike enthusiast.

He had intended to become a civilian police officer.

Ms Mullin, who read a statement from Cpl Boote's parents, said: "They feel robbed of their only son but are aware that he was doing something he truly believed in.

"No parents could be more proud of a son."

Senior Army officials have described Cpl Boote's regiment, Manchester-based 116 Provost Company, as a "much poorer place without him".

He and his fellow servicemen were killed when a rogue police officer turned his gun on them.

His family had been looking forward to Cpl Boote coming home on leave in December to celebrate his 23rd birthday.