A MENTALLY scarred veteran who survived a suicide bomb attack has handed back his service badge in protest at the way he has been treated by the Army.

Jason Wilkes - medically discharged from the Army with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after 21 years service - said he received no support for his condition while his claim for compensation has been dragging on for eight years without any conclusion in sight.

The 40-year-old of Haswell, County Durham, was among those who trained with Prince Harry in Iceland for the Walking with the Wounded race to the South Pole.

He has now given his Armed Forces Veterans Badge to Easington MP Graeme Morris to return in person to Defence Minister Anna Soubry.

Mr Wilkes suffered burns and shrapnel injuries in a suicide car bomb attack while serving with the Royal Engineers in Iraq, in April 2006.

He was also one of the first people on the scene of the shootings at Massereen Barracks in Antrim Town, Northern Ireland, in 2009, when two off-duty British soldiers of 38 Engineer Regiment were murdered while taking a pizza delivery.

The father-of-one, who was a corporal, says he still suffers flashbacks, nightmares, has anger issues, panic attacks and avoids crowded places.

"My claim has been dragging out for over eight years and it has still not been sorted out.

“I have been to three tribunals and it looks like I am going to have to go to a fourth.

“Each time I have to tell them how I got blown up and how the PTSD affects me and my wife. It’s very upsetting.

“Hopefully by making this gesture I will draw attention to the thousands of servicemen and women like me who have suffered invisible injuries.

“They just don’t seem to get the recognition that people with physical injuries do.”

Mr Morris said: “Mr Wilkes has been examined by some of the top psychiatrists in the Army and they say he suffers from a legitimate condition.

“They say he is not fit for normal duty and is unlikely to recover. It’s a long term condition he is having to cope with.

“He is being denied the support and compensation to which he is entitled.”

He added: “Surely there is a case when the evidence is so strong, men and woman who risk life and limb like Jason - surely the nation owes them a debt of honour.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The MoD cannot discuss details of individual cases.

“The armed forces compensation scheme is a no fault scheme which provides compensation for injuries illness or death caused by servicemen on or after the April 6 2005.

“Claims can be made for both physical or mental conditions."

The spokesman said the claimant disagreed with the decision they could appeal and have it looked at by an independent tribunal.