A YORK soldier jailed for nine months after going AWOL in protest against the war in Afghanistan has been released.

Private Joe Glenton, of New Earswick, was jailed in March but released early because of good behaviour.

His wife Clare said she was delighted but the news sparked dismay from the relatives of Yorkshire soldier James Leverett, 20, who was killed in Afghanistan last week.

Trooper Leverett’s grandmother Barbara Hatt said: “All he [Glenton] has got is a few months in prison, but he has got his life – well my grandson has not.”

Mr Glenton, 27, had been locked up at the Military Corrective Training Centre – nicknamed the Glasshouse – in Colchester.

He was released at 10.30am today but that until midnight he was banned from speaking to the media.

John Tipple, Mr Glenton’s case worker, said: “He is a bit overwhelmed by the support he has.

“He is a different man, a man who is feeling good about himself, who has done the right thing rather than a man who would have skulked off and done three years in jail for desertion. Rather than do that he spoke out.

“His feelings are one of relief as it has been a long time; this has been a four-year nightmare for him since he went AWOL and he is still suffering from post-traumatic stress but he is being helped by his wife.”

Mr Glenton’s wife Clare said: “I have been waiting for this day for a long time. It’s been tough but we have got through it.”

His mother Sue Glenton said she was “delighted” but spoke of sadness for the families of the 314 servicemen killed in Afghanistan.

Mr Glenton went AWOL for 737 days after performing a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2006, while serving with the Royal Logistic Corps. His court martial heard that when he returned from Afghanistan he was ordered to go back to the conflict zone after nine months even though military guidelines suggest soldiers should not be deployed again within 18 months.

Mr Glenton now plans to study global development and peace studies at Leeds Metropolitan University.