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Royal Marine reservist admits firearms offences | Royal Marine reservist admits firearms offences |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Royal Marine reservist has pleaded guilty to possessing an arsenal of weapons including an assault rifle, grenades and plastic explosives. | A Royal Marine reservist has pleaded guilty to possessing an arsenal of weapons including an assault rifle, grenades and plastic explosives. |
Martin Shannon, 43, pleaded to guilty at the Old Bailey to 15 charges relating to firearms and explosives. | Martin Shannon, 43, pleaded to guilty at the Old Bailey to 15 charges relating to firearms and explosives. |
The court heard Shannon, of Hayley Close, Hythe near Southampton, sold some of the weapons, which he took from RM Poole naval base in Dorset. | |
He was arrested following a covert operation by the National Crime Agency. | He was arrested following a covert operation by the National Crime Agency. |
At the time of his arrest in a supermarket on 1 September, the agency said there was no link to terrorism. | |
Martin Shannon's deadly arsenal | |
Shannon was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 16 December, following the preparation of psychiatric reports, after his lawyers argued he could be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. | |
Judge Richard Marks QC warned Shannon he could expect "immediate imprisonment". | |
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We take the security of weaponry very seriously and have robust procedures to deter and prevent losses and thefts which are constantly reviewed." | A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We take the security of weaponry very seriously and have robust procedures to deter and prevent losses and thefts which are constantly reviewed." |