A FATHER-OF-THREE who served alongside murdered soldier Lee Rigby is travelling to Iraq to confront "evil" ISIS terrorists.

Shar Williams is planning to head to the war-torn country next week, leaving behind his fiancee and three children, to train up Kurdish soldiers and serve alongside them on the front line.

The Afghanistan and Northern Ireland veteran says he is scared about the prospect and that he expects the conditions on the mission to be worse than those he experienced on his tours.

The 31-year-old, from Deane, said what happened to Fusilier Rigby may play on his mind while he is in Iraq, but says he is going to combat "murderers, rapists and terrorists".

He is seeking to raise about £4,000 to pay for travel and equipment for him and his team to join the Peshmerga in the battle against ISIS insurgents in Kurdistan, a region that encompasses parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran.

Due to get married later this year, Mr Williams — an assumed name to protect his identity — said his bride-to-be has come to terms with the risk he is taking.

He said: "I am already having sleepless nights. If people claim they are not scared they are either lying or not right in the head.

"In Afghanistan I have come across some dangerous things but the reality of war here is going to be a lot more harsh I think.

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"We know the possible consequences of what we are doing but we are still going because of how we feel about what is going on out there.

"I got engaged in February and not long after I started telling her about this plan.

"At first she was not happy at all and she is still not ecstatic about it.

"But she is behind what I am trying to do.

"I always say that those affected by war most are the ones left behind."

Fusilier Rigby was hacked to death outside barracks in Woolwich, south London, in May, 2013.

His killers, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were given, respectively, a whole-life jail sentence and a minimum of 45 years.

Mr Williams added: "It was ruthless and horrible what they did to Lee.

"It might play on my mind a bit while I am over there.

"But mainly it is about stopping this evil group.

"If I didn't do something, I would be ashamed of myself.

"Islamic State are murdering scum. They are killing their own people, raping women and murdering children.

"Nobody in the world should have to go through that.

"I will be fighting alongside Muslims and Christians for the same cause, which is peace.

"ISIS are saying, if you don't join them you are as good as dead."

Mr Williams, who has served as a sharp-shooter, combat assault pioneer and carried out reconnaissance work, will spend two weeks training up the soldiers before accompanying them into battle.

ISIS, also known as Islamic State, now controls swathes of Iraq, and is the target of ongoing coalition airstrikes.

The militant terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the beheading of a number of British and American hostages in gruesome videos shared online, including the Bolton convoy aid worker Alan Henning last year.

Mr Williams left the armed forces three years ago, and has since worked overseas tackling piracy on behalf of overseas agencies in locations including Somalia.

His children are aged one, eight and 11.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Those who travel abroad in order to participate in conflicts may be committing offences.

"Whether this is the case will depend on the circumstances and nature of the individual's activity.”

The Foreign Office is warning against all but essential travel to Kurdistan, and advises against going to some parts of Iraq completely because of the threat of terrorism.

They say limited consular assistance will be available to British nationals who encounter difficulties in the region.

A spokesman said: "The security situation throughout Iraq remains uncertain, and could deteriorate quickly.

"You should monitor media reporting and make sure you have robust contingency plans in place."

Mr Williams and his colleagues have set up a fundraising page online in a bid to fund their mission.