Shot soldier may not have had body armour

The death of a British soldier in Iraq is being investigated amid suggestions that he was not wearing body armour. Desert Rats tank commander Sergeant Steven Roberts, 33, was shot through the chest during a riot in Zubayr, near Basra, three days after the conflict began.

Military chiefs confirmed an investigation was under way into whether Sgt Roberts' flak jacket had been fitted with vital ceramic plates.

An official Army spokesman said: "Sgt Roberts should have been issued with enhanced body armour. We're trying to establish if he had chosen not to use it or whether it was not made available to him.

"There have been problems with the supply of some of the equipment and the flow of combat gear has been too slow."

The spokesman promised: "Nothing will be swept under the carpet. If mistakes were made that led to his death we'll want to make sure they don't happen again." Answers to the investigation's "most important questions" should be reached within days, he added. Sgt Roberts, of the 2nd Tank Regiment, married his second wife, Samantha, a year ago.

Originally from Cornwall, he and his wife were living in Shipley, West Yorkshire. She has been told of the inquiry.