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Explosives charge soldiers jailed | Explosives charge soldiers jailed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two Scottish soldiers have been jailed for 12 years each for conspiring to possess explosives and pass them to associates in the criminal underworld. | |
Colour Sgt Garry Graham, 37, and L/Cpl Martyn Fitzsimmons, 28, were earlier convicted of conspiracy to possess explosives at Maidstone Crown Court. | |
Sentencing, Mr Justice Akenhead said the offences were "among the most serious" that soldiers could commit. | Sentencing, Mr Justice Akenhead said the offences were "among the most serious" that soldiers could commit. |
The pair had been stationed at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent. | The pair had been stationed at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent. |
The judge said: "These offences are extremely serious and among the most serious serving soldiers can commit. They stemmed from dishonesty and the motive was money." | The judge said: "These offences are extremely serious and among the most serious serving soldiers can commit. They stemmed from dishonesty and the motive was money." |
Graham and Fitzsimmons (previously only named as soldier X and soldier Y respectively) were also found guilty of conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods, during the three-week trial. | |
Jurors heard the explosives had included detonators, flares, smoke grenades, distraction grenades and other munitions belonging to the British Army. | Jurors heard the explosives had included detonators, flares, smoke grenades, distraction grenades and other munitions belonging to the British Army. |
'Lucky charm' | 'Lucky charm' |
The men, who had both denied the charges, were serving members of the 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). | The men, who had both denied the charges, were serving members of the 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). |
Graham, of Kilmarnock, claimed he found the items in the office while preparing for duty in Afghanistan and put them in a locker on 7 February 2008, before returning home to Scotland on leave. | |
He said he felt he was being "set-up" and did not report his find because he wanted to confront his platoon colleagues first without being called "a grass". | He said he felt he was being "set-up" and did not report his find because he wanted to confront his platoon colleagues first without being called "a grass". |
Fitzsimmons, of Glasgow, said he kept the ammunition as a lucky charm so he "didn't get shot" while on duty.Campbell gave evidence for the Crown during the trial | |
Their co-conspirator Sgt Kieran Campbell, 27, also of 5 Scots (previously soldier B) was also jailed for four years after previously pleading guilty to both charges and coming forward to give evidence for the Crown during the trial. | |
Unemployed Andrew Quinn, 26, the fourth man in the conspiracy and a former soldier with 5 Scots is due to be sentenced on Thursday at Maidstone Crown Court. | |
Mr Justice Akenhead called for an immediate inquiry to examine how the offences were allowed to occur within the British Army's ranks. | |
He said: "The Army needs to urgently conduct an inquiry into how this happened. | |
He added: "These three serving soldiers have dishonoured their battalion, their regiment and their country and betrayed the trust that people placed in them." |