A West army medic was demoted and jailed after he went absent without leave to keep a 24-hour vigil at his baby daughter's hospital bedside.

Acting Corporal Ben Peters, 28, of Weston-super-Mare, returned to the UK from his base in Germany to be with family after his five-week old daughter Alana contracted deadly viral meningitis.

But despite keeping the military informed, Ben was arrested on his return to his German base, demoted and given 30 days military detention and docked two months wages.

Ben's devastated wife Charlie, 27, who lives in Weston, said: "All he tried to do was be there for his family and he has been severely punished for it.

"They let you fight for your country but you're not allowed to fight for your family."

Ben, who is part of the 2nd Medical Regiment, has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Belize, where he was recommended for a commendation in 2007 after pulling casualties out of the jungle.

He took approved leave in April when Charlie began to suffer from severe sciatica towards the end of her pregnancy.

Ben then also took the agreed two-week paternity leave when Alana was born in May – only to be posted Awol when he failed to return to Germany after she contracted meningitis.

Charlie added: "We were told to expect the worst.

"We were told there was a one in ten chance Alana wouldn't make it and she was only five weeks old, but all the time Ben's mum kept the Army up-to-date."

The Army granted Ben compassionate leave while Alana was at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and although the family feared the worst, she pulled through and was discharged after six days.

The devoted dad spent hours at Alana's hospital bedside, as he and Charlie worked in shifts to watch over their daughter and care for their eldest daughter, Alexa, aged three.

Ben then asked for a few more days off to ensure he could attend Alana's follow-up appointments when she came out of hospital, but this was refused.

He was again posted Awol and arrested days later when he returned to the base.

A military hearing in Germany found Ben guilty of going Awol and sentenced him to 30 days at the forces correction centre in Colchester, docked his wages and demoted him to the rank of private.

The ordeal has left the couple having to take out a bank loan to pay for bills and food.

Charlie, a retail supervisor, added: "I was under the impression that as the wife of a soldier with children the Army would look after me and care for me.

"I have had several conversations with them in which I stressed our financial situation, but I don't feel I have seen any evidence at all of support towards me and my children.

"The very serious events that have happened don't seem to have any relevance to them.

"I'm really quite disgusted and upset about the way it has affected us as a family and it has affected our marriage."

Ben is now back at his base in Germany but despite being told he would be given a compassionate posting to the UK, is still waiting.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman yesterday refused to comment on individual cases but confirmed that all formal complaints were "fully investigated."