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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Royal Marine reservist admits firearms offences | Royal Marine reservist admits firearms offences |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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 on 1 September, the agency described Shannon as "a significant risk to the public" but said there was no link to terrorism. | |
| Martin Shannon's deadly arsenal | Martin Shannon's deadly arsenal |
| Shannon pleaded guilty to transferring the assault rifle, pistol and sawn-off shotgun and cartridges. | |
| The married defendant also admitted two counts of having an explosive substance, eight counts of possessing ammunition and one charge of possessing a shotgun without a firearms certificate. | |
| He 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". | 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." |