A CWMBRAN soldier was unlawfully killed while serving in Afghanistan, an inquest heard today.

Gwent Coroner's Court heard how Private James Prosser was killed while driving a Warrior armoured vehicle in Helmand Province on September 27 last year.

Pte Prosser's mum Sarah Adams, sister Emma Prosser, and brother Josh Newman, from Coed Eva, listened to evidence from his comrades yesterday.

Major Huw Jones explained how the 21-year-old soldier and his team from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh were given the task of helping to clear two areas where the Taliban was thought to be operating.

They left the Minden Patrol Base at about 5.30am for a route they had been along before and were equipped with body armour and helmets.

Major Jones said the patrol was regularly told about the risk of IEDs and said these are now being developed with a degree of sophistication in minimising the amount of metal in them.

The inquest heard how two soldiers went out in front of the Warrior to scan for any possible IEDs using metal detectors.

The Warrior was moving through a confined area with Pte Prosser negotiating a bend when the explosion happened.

The explosion threw the 36 tonne Warrior into the air which saw it bounce a couple of times before landing.

Major Jones said most of the blast was concentrated underneath the driver's compartment and took off several of the Warrior's wheels.

He said: "It was a deliberate act to the target the driver."

Pte Prosser was unconscious after the explosion and was taken to hospital by helicopter where he was pronounced dead at 7.30am.

Major Jones said the device contained between 25 and 30kg of homemade explosives which caused extensive damage to the Warrior.

Private Wayne Ellis was first out of the turret and gave first aid to Pte Prosser.

He was awarded a joint commanders' commendation for his actions and was thanked by Mrs Adams.

A post mortem examination concluded Pte Prosser died as a result of blast injuries caused by an explosion.

Private Prosser's mother Sarah Adams said after the inquest: "I can't fault the Army in any way. They've been so supportive and I've had a brilliant welfare officer."

Mrs Adams said she knew what was going to be said at the inquest but that hearing it was still difficult.

She said she was pleased Pte Ellis had been recognised for his actions on the day her son was killed and said the commendation was well deserved.

She said: "If anyone had to be with James at that time it would be him."

Soldier was 'a brave Welsh Warrior'

Gwent coroner David Bowen said: "This is yet another inquest into one of our brave young soldiers who died while serving in Afghanistan.

"He had an ambition to join the army and serve his country and was well-respected and liked by his colleagues."

He said that IEDs, even with the best of equipment, are sometimes difficult to detect.

"The energy and destructive power of these devices would have been far greater because of the confined area in which the Warrior was operating," he said.

He concluded that Pte Prosser was unlawfully killed on active service while deployed in Afghanistan.

Major Huw Jones told the Argus after the inquest how Pte Prosser quickly made his mark with the company after joining the battalion in February last year.

He said he was popular and outgoing and always put others before himself.

"A brave Welsh Warrior, Pte Prosser was a great asset to his platoon and will be sorely missed by those who had the privilege to serve with him," he added.