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Three Wigan police officers are to be charged with assaulting a soldier during an arrest - the trio are also being summonsed to court to face a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Sgt Stephen Russell, PC Richard Kelsall, and Special Constable Peter Lightfoot will appear for the first time before Oldham magistrates on July 15.

They are accused of causing Lance Cpl Mark Aspinall actual bodily harm during an incident in Wigan town centre on July 27 last year. The summonses came after Mr Aspinall was himself convicted by Wigan magistrates, but then cleared on appeal after a judge was shown CCTV footage of the incident.

His acquittal triggered an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission which last night confirmed that the officers were to face criminal charges.
SC Lightfoot will also face a charge of perjury.

An IPCC spokesman said: "The charges relate to an allegation that excessive force was used during the arrest of 34-year-old Bolton man Mark Aspinall in Wigan town centre in the early hours of Sunday July 27.

"The IPCC managed the Greater Manchester Police investigation into the incident."

Mr Aspinall said that he had suffered 14 injuries to his head and face during a six-minute period that he was held on the ground during the arrest.

Mr Aspinall served in Iraq and Afghanistan during his seven years with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He returned to Britain from a front-line posting in Afghanistan in March last year and was working out his notice in the Army at the time of the incident.

He had planned to join the fire service but his application was rejected because of his criminal conviction. After his arrest his commanding officer, Major Christopher Bell wrote praising Mr Aspinall as "a model professional."