A HERO ex-squaddie has been cleared of pension fraud — then informed how he was handled worse than IS terrorists he fought.
Alan Duncan, 53, hit out after being dragged by way of the courts for 3 years and accused of faking post-traumatic stress dysfunction to pocket greater than £15,000.
Alan Duncan hit out after being dragged by way of the courtsCredit score: © JASPERIMAGE
He blasted the Ministry of Defence who claimed he should have recovered from the situation as a result of he travelled to Iraq and Syria to tackle Islamic State fanatics as a volunteer.
He was set to face trial on Friday however the case was dropped on the final minute attributable to a scarcity of proof.
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Alan, from Elgin, stated: “There are members of ISIS who’ve been allowed to return to the UK and are strolling the streets as if nothing occurred.
“But I’m the one who’s been known as a fraudster and had it hanging over me for 3 years.
“I’ve been handled worse than ISIS, all as a result of I needed to do the proper factor. What did I do to deserve this? I fought for my nation as a result of I imagine in it.”
Alan joined the military straight out of college and served with the Queen’s Personal Highlanders and Royal Irish Regiment. He left with a £70-a-week pension after being recognized with PTSD in 2003.The courageous Gulf Battle and Northern Eire veteran determined to enroll with Kurdish Peshmergas to struggle IS.
Alan served with the Queen’s Personal Highlanders and Royal Irish RegimentCredit score: Gather
However in June 2017, MoD cops hauled him away in handcuffs and quizzed him for hours. It was thought the case would by no means attain courtroom, but it surely lastly went earlier than a decide for the primary time in 2019.
Alan, who thought-about suicide due to the case, stated: “They virtually broke me.
“My very own nation, the folks I fought for as a result of I imagine in justice, virtually defeated me. They practically did what IS couldn’t do.”
Final week prosecutors tried to have the case postponed till subsequent spring.
However when it known as at Elgin Sheriff Court docket, fiscal depute Karen Aitken stated there was inadequate proof to proceed.
After the listening to, Alan’s solicitor Brent Lockie stated: “The case is over. Alan has been wronged. The entire thing was a nonsense.
“I informed him he must wait but it surely’s a pleasure to lastly deliver it to an finish.”
After his arrest in 2017, we informed how Alan had been checked by an MoD doctor and told he still had PTSD, however at a much less extreme stage.
He was then informed he was not entitled to a weekly pension however was given a £6,000 payout as a substitute.
A Crown Workplace spokeswoman stated: “After cautious consideration of the information, the procurator fiscal concluded there must be no additional proceedings.”
The MoD was requested for remark.
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