A NORTH-EAST soldier who has spoken for the first time about how he was was brutally beaten by senior officers last night revealed he is taking legal action against his attackers and the Army.

Sergeant David Bell, 34, was battered unconscious for wearing white trainers while having a drink in a warrant officers’ mess hall.

Sergeant Bell, who suffered a broken jaw and had to have plates inserted in his face, has broken his silence to speak exclusively The Northern Echo about his ordeal.

Sgt Bell, who grew up and went to school in Barnard Castle, but now lives in Seaham, County Durham, said: “It should never have happened at all. It was in a warrant officers’ mess and that is where the leaders of men are supposed to be. They are the top of the chain.”

The father-of-three, who has nearly 18 years of military experience, including tours of Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, has been told that no criminal charges are being brought against his attackers. He is considering private prosecutions against the men responsible for the bloody assault, which happened in February, in Cyprus, after a tour of Afghanistan.

He is expected to be medically retired at a hearing next month and is looking to sue the Army for the way the case has been handled.

Sgt Bell, who has hired a Darlington solicitor to handle the case, said: “I am devastated.

I have not just been let down by the individuals, but the system as a whole. It is pretty annoying.

“The advice I have from the military prosecution team is that they have concluded [no formal prosecution will be sought] and I need to seek civil advice. I am not doing it for reward or money – that is not the sort of person I am – it is for justice at the end of the day.”

Sgt Bell was knocked out at least twice during a prolonged beating that left him with two plates in his face, six multiple fractures down the left side of his face, four missing teeth and muscle damage that affects his hearing.

He said: “It could have been something to do with the fact that we had just got back from Afghan, I don’t know. It had been a pretty hard tour.

“We lost a couple of guys with shooting incidents and IEDs. There might have been underlying issues with the warrant officers, but that is just my opinion.”

Sgt Bell, of 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, said he has been told one of the men may face a charge of threatening behaviour before his commanding officer within the regiment.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the Army had not yet concluded considering disciplinary action in relation to the case.

Sgt Bell added: “Being a soldier was all I ever wanted to do when I was at school. My mind was made up at a very early stage. I was due to be promoted and posted before the incident, but everything is finished now.”