A SERVING soldier who faces up to ten years in jail for speaking out against the war in Afghanistan will continue to be held in an Army jail while he awaits trial, it was learned today.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, from York, is in military custody and facing five charges surrounding his role in an anti-war demonstration in London last month.

A military court decided he should be kept in custody for another 28 days, his legal representative said today.

The 27-year-old had already been accused of desertion after he went absent without leave from the Army in 2007 rather than serve his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, before handing himself in earlier this year.

He was arrested and charged last week with five offences of disobeying lawful commands and standing orders after he joined the anti-war protest.

Lance Corporal Glenton, of the Royal Logistic Corps, is being held at the Army's military corrective training centre in Colchester, a former prisoner of war camp.

The new charges carry a maximum of ten years in prison in addition to the sentence of up to four years that he could be given if found guilty of desertion.

His legal representative John Tipple said: "Joe feels obliged to continue to speak out against the war - that is what he is committed to doing."

Chris Nineham of the Stop The War Coalition said: "It is outrageous that military people are allowed to talk to the media about why we should continue with this incredibly unpopular war, yet someone expressing the views of millions of people is gagged."