A soldier is facing a Court Martial over claims he attacked another squaddie over Iraq abuse photos.

Lance Corporal Adam Richardson is to appear in court over allegations that he assaulted Fusilier Gary Bartlam.

Bartlam was questioned by police military police after he gave a camera film to a photo developers allegedly showing abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

The 19-year-old, serving in 1st Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers with Richardson, appeared before an Army Court Martial earlier this month over the photos.

Now it is understood Richardson, 25, who was based in Newcastle, is to appear in a military court over claims he assaulted Bartlam.

The trial is to be heard at Hohne, near Hanover in Germany, and is likely to begin on February 9.

The Ministry of Defence were unable to release details of the charges.

A spokesman said: "I can confirm that Lance Corporal Adam Richardson is facing a court martial.

"He is in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

"We are unable to reveal details of the charges or age of the accused or details of his address.

"Proceedings are likely to start on February 9 and it is likely pre-trial hearings have already been completed."

Richardson was 18 when he joined the army and served in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb.

He is the third North East solider from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers facing a Court Martial.

Lance Corporal Mark Cooley, 25, and Corporal Daniel Kenyon, 33, both from Newcastle, are both accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Father-of-one Kenyon and former Walbottle Campus pupil Cooley, from Throckley, Newcastle both deny the charges that are currently being heard at a Court Martial in Osnabruck, Germany.

An MOD spokesman confirmed the court martial will take place on Feb 9.

It is understood the alleged attack, in which Bartlam suffered a fractured jaw, took place before the pictures at the centre of the current court martial of Cooley and Kenyon came to light.