A FORMER British soldier from Accrington who fought against the Islamic State terror group in Syria has been sentenced to seven and a half years in jail in Turkey.

Joe Robinson, 25, was arrested on holiday accused of fighting alongside the People's Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan (YPG).

The Turkish state regards the militia as a terrorist organisation because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party which campaigns for autonomy for the region from Ankara.

The former soldier remains on bail while planning an appeal.

He has previously admitted fighting IS but denies acting alongside the Kurdish militia

Mr Robinson insists he travelled to Syria to provide medical aid.

He was arrested in July last year in the town of Didim alongside partner Mira Rojkan, a Bulgarian citizen who had been studying law in Leeds.

She was accused of engaging in terrorist propaganda.

Mr Robinson's mother Sharon Chimejczuk said she received a phone call on Friday night from an official at the British Foreign Office confirming his sentence.

Ms Rojkan, a law student at the University of Leeds, has been given a suspended sentence for spreading 'terrorism propaganda'.

Mrs Chimejczuk said:"There was a trial, but Joe wasn't at it."

Ms Rojkan said: "The court sentenced me for sharing Facebook posts with the Kurdish flag and links to Kurdish songs on YouTube.

"The situation is just so sad and ridiculous. It's beyond me how this can be happening.

"Joee was very shocked by the news.

"He's very desperate to come home, he's broken. He's tired and he just wishes to come home as soon as possible.

"Unfortunately for Joe there was very little help from the Foreign Office."

His stepfather Mark Chimejczuk said: "This has torn the family apart.

"We just want him home but it's not looking good.

"The family want to British government to support his appeal and get him back to the UK.

"We don't think they've done enough.

"He could not attend the trial because he was ill.

"Joe was over there as a military medic."

Mr Robinson, who served with British forces in Afghanistan, spent four months in a Turkish jail after his arrest last year.

He was released on bail in November but prevented from leaving the country.

He spent five months as a volunteer with Kurdish forces who were fighting against IS.

Mr Robinson, who toured Afghanistan with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in 2012, was detained in a Turkish prison for four months until he was bailed.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said officials are ready to provide Robinson with further assistance, adding: "We have been following this case very closely and have raised it with the Turkish authorities."

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones has previously met with the family and called for Mr Robinson to be brought home.