AN injured former soldier fears he “wasted his time” serving his country after being told he has to wait up to 10 years for a council house.

Ex-Sgt Eddie Stalker has a numb chest after being injured by a mortar blast in Afghanistan and has back pain from carrying equipment in the Bosnian war.

The 37-year-old said: “We live in a cold flat in Charminster with bad damp, which upsets my chest problem, the windows don’t open, the heating barely works. I feel that I have just wasted my time in the Army serving my country – all I have now are six medals.

“I’m not expecting the red carpet, just a bit more understanding.”

He spent 20 years in the Royal Logistic Corps and had to retire after developing deep vein thrombosis on the flight back from Afghanistan.

The injuries mean that Mr Stalker, who lives with his partner Linda and her adult daughter, finds it hard to get around.

He has found a retail job and wants to work for his living, but even with Linda’s wages they struggle with the £600-a-month rent on the two-bed flat.

But he said if he claims an injured serviceman’s pension to get bonuses like a free bus pass, that could prevent him getting better jobs.

Howard Fairman, the county manager for the Royal British Legion, said: “There’s a big shortage of housing stock and it’s not just a problem for people who were in the Army.

“We get a lot of applications for help from people. There’s a set order of priority and they don’t make exemptions for people who were in the forces.”

Geoff Walker, the council’s housing options manager, said: “As with all applications we will be investigating and assessing the applicants’ individual circumstances and will notify them of the outcome as soon as possible.”