Wednesday, September 28 2005 10:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Fort Hood (US):: United States (US) Army private Lynndie England was sentenced to three years in jail and granted a dishonourable discharge by a military court for her role in abusing Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

England, who became infamous when photos of the diminutive soldier holding a naked prisoner by a leash were broadcast across the globe, broke down in tears in court here after her sentence was announced yesterday (Sept 27, 2005).

She was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, four counts of maltreatment and one count of committing an indecent act.

A visibly shocked England bowed her head as her mother, Terri, walked over to her and consoled her with a hug after the verdict.

She was also too overcome with emotion to hold her baby son, who had also been in court during the announcement, as she leaned against a table to support herself.

Military police permitted the young soldier to have a few minutes with her family before leading her from the court.

England's lawyers had tried to paint the 22-year-old private as a naive young woman whose learning disabilities allowed her to be manipulated by the ringleader of the abuse, Charles Graner, who at the time was her lover.

Earlier yesterday, England pleaded with jurors not to separate her from her baby boy even though she had been found guilty of abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.