'He lit up a room with his smile...' Steven Boote was a victim of a rogue Afghan policeman. Kevin Core recalls the tributes from those who knew him.

Byline: Kevin Core

ABIRKENHEAD soldier from the Territorial Army has been named among the five killed at a checkpoint in Afghanistan.

Corporal Steven Boote, 22, of the Royal Military Police, was among five shot dead at a checkpoint on Tuesday in Helmand Province, sparking fears the Taliban had infiltrated the country's police.

In his civilian life he was a Tesco security guard who joined his home town regiment, 107 Field Squadron Royal Engineers (volunteers) in 2006 and had ambitions to join the regular police.

A member of the Manchester Detachment of 116 Provost Company, Royal Military Police (Volunteers), he was attached to 160 Provost Company.

He completed his police training and was promoted to Lance Corporal in 2007, volunteering for duty in Afghanistan.

Known as "Booty" to comrades, he had a passion for motorbikes which he spent hours working on with his father.

Corporal Boote''s family issued a statement saying: "Our son Steven was a wonderful, genuine young man.

"He would light up a room with a single smile and left a lasting impression on all he met."

The UK military has blamed a "rogue" Afghan policeman for Tuesday''s shooting in Helmand province.

The killing of five troops at the checkpoint on Tuesday has led to doubts being raised about the ability of coalition forces to handover to native forces in Afghanistan, amid concerns that security forces could have been compromised by Taliban infiltrators.

The Taliban, however, has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Debbie Poneskis, said: "Corporal Boote was very proud to be a Territorial Soldier, second only to his pride in being a Military Policeman.

"He worked tirelessly to ensure he was at the top of his game and showed steadfast resilience and determination in gaining a much sought after place on Operation HERRICK 11 with his regular counterparts.

"Corporal Boote was a strong character with a good sense of humour and enjoyed being round his friends and having a laugh. It was an absolute pleasure to promote him to full Corporal at the end of an exercise earlier this year.

"He utterly deserved it and the smile on his face will be my enduring image of him."

Paying tribute to the five men, Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, said: I was so very sorry to hear of the deaths of these five brave soldiers, killed in the course of their duties in Afghanistan.

"That they were killed by one of those they were working alongside is a particular tragedy.

The memory of WO1 Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith, Cpl Steven Boote and Guardsman James Major will live on.

"They were men of courage who died building security in Afghanistan and protecting people in the UK from terrorism.

My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts.

Wirral Council has lowered the flag at Wallasey town Hall to half mast.

Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Andrew Hodson, said: "I was extremely saddened to hear about the tragic death of Corporal Steven Boote, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country this week.

"On behalf of the people of Wirral, I would like to say that we are extremely proud of him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, partner and friends at this terrible time."

During a visit to Widnes, Gordon Brown defended the role of British troops in Afghanistan.

He said it is vital that Britain can counter the threat from extremists operating in the area.

He said: "If we are to defend Britain properly, then it is not enough simply to defend ourselves here.

"If we let the Taliban back into control in Afghanistan, then al-Qaida will have an even bigger base in which to move."

[e-mail] Soldier's death takes British casualty toll to 230 A BRITISH soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday.

The serviceman, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died near Sangin, in Helmand Province.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, who is the spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "His sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Since 2001, 230 soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

CAPTION(S):

Acting Corporal Steven Boote, of the Royal Military Police, who was one of five soldiers shot and killed by a ''rogue'' Afghan policeman