A WAR veteran left brain damaged following a bombing in Afghanistan has completed a work placement in Knutsford to help restore his confidence.

Former infantryman Stewart Harris, from Rhyl, was hurled into a ditch when a roadside bomb impacted his vehicle in 2012.

The impact of the blast also left Stewart partially sighted and partially deaf, before he witnessed three of his comrades be shot dead by an Afghan policeman later in the same year.

Following 13 years’ service, Stewart was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and left the army aged 28.

But now, a work placement at Bentley Manchester, in Mobberley Road, has helped Stewart on the road to recovery.

“I really enjoyed being part of a team again,” he said.

“I gained so much confidence and learnt new skills from highly-motivated staff, such as running events and using social media channels from a business prospective.”

Stewart is a member of the On Course Foundation, which aims to support the recovery of sick and injured veterans through playing golf.

The charity approached Jon Crossley, managing director of Bentley Manchester, to ask if Stewart could gain experience of running the most successful Bentley dealership in the UK.

After beginning his placement last September, he worked on marketing Bentley’s models during the Tour of Britain, answered reception calls and served customers in the showroom.

Stewart is now looking for work in the marketing industry, has since been involved in several charity events, and travelled around to Africa to share his story. He will travel to Norway next month.

For more information about the On Course Foundation, visit oncoursefoundation.com