Soldier goes AWOL for third time

The missing soldier has served in Iraq

A soldier has again escaped from his barracks - on the eve of his court martial for going AWOL with a gun.

Lance Corporal James Piotrowski, 21, fled from Wellington Barracks in London for the third time in as many months.

The soldier, who comes from Birmingham, was the centre of a manhunt in the city in November when he was believed to have run away with an SA80 rifle.

He was arrested in Northfield and was returned to his barracks but four days later escaped from Army custody.

He was recaptured again later.

Now he has again escaped and local as well as army police are looking for him once more.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed on Saturday that he disappeared on Wednesday - the day before he was due to face a court martial - and was still absent without leave.

L-Cpl Piotrowski is in the Irish Guards and has served a spell in Iraq.