HERO? HE'S A RAT

A SENIOR Army officer has flown home in disgrace from Iraq after fathering a lovechild with his mistress - and then failing to pay maintenance.

Married Major Raymond Rock's lover has reported him to the Child Support Agency over their four-month-old daughter Lolabelle.

Yesterday Sharren Ackroyd, 33, cradled the little girl in her arms and said: "He is a spineless coward. He is running round with a gun acting the big hero when actually he has abandoned all his responsibilities."

Major Rock, 44, of the TA's elite Royal Green Jackets - motto Swift and Strong - who is Chief of Staff to the Coalition Provisional Authority for Dhi Qua province in south central Iraq, flew home two weeks ago.

The Major - who is one of Britain and America's most senior officials in Iraq - already has two children by wife Tanya.

He met Sharren while doing school runs in Llandudno, North Wales...and used to bed her, telling his wife he was out walking the dog.

He admitted he is the father of Sharren's baby in a letter to her solicitor which has been seen by the Sunday Mirror. But his main concern was that his own mother didn't find out about the child.

Last night divorced mother-of-three Sharren told how Major Rock swept her off her feet. She says: "I was separated from my husband and he told me he had a miserable marriage. I was bowled over by him.

"At the time he was living in London because he was based there. But his wife owned a hotel in Llandudno and he was up most weekends.

"He'd call round most nights, walking his dog. He used to call it his alibi. We invariably ended up in bed.

"He told me he was leaving his wife because they had a miserable marriage and, fool that I am, I believed him. Before I knew it I was pregnant."

And she adds: "It's all very well him dashing off to Iraq to do his duty. But what about his duty to his daughter?"

CSA officials told her they would contact the Ministry of Defence. Major Rock is understood to have returned to Britain after talks with his CO.

Sharren says: "All I want is what's right for Belle. Despite all his derring-do missions, he's shown himself to be gutless."

Major Rock - who does not face disciplinary action - is now staying at his wife's hotel, the Headlands, in Llandudno. He refused to comment last night.

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