Stoke squaddie fought for the Kurds

A former soldier who joined Kurdish forces to fight Islamic State has appeared at the Old Bailey. James Matthews, 43, allegedly joined the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in 2015, serving three tours with the Kurdish militia group, specialising in clearing mines and booby-traps. The YPG is linked to the PKK separatist group which is proscribed in the UK. The case is believed to be the first where terrorist charges have been brought for fighting against ISIS. Matthews served with the…