A Royal Navy medic found guilty of disobeying a lawful command by refusing to attend rifle training because of his "moral objection" to bearing arms and the war in Afghanistan has lost his appeal against conviction.
Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London rejected a challenge by Michael Lyons, who is serving seven months' detention at a military correction facility in Colchester, Essex.
Lyons, 25, from Plymouth, Devon, who was sentenced in July, had denied the offence at a court martial at Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire.
The leading medical assistant was also demoted to the rank of able seaman and dismissed from the service.
He was present in court to hear Lord Justice Toulson, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Hickinbottom, throw out his conviction appeal.
They also dismissed his appeal against his "manifestly excessive" sentence. The court heard that Lyons has four weeks left to serve.
Reasons for the decision will be given in writing on a date to be fixed.
