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| Explosives charge soldiers jailed | Explosives charge soldiers jailed |
| (40 minutes 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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), who gave evidence for the Crown during the trial, was also jailed for four years. | Their co-conspirator Sgt Kieran Campbell, 27, also of 5 Scots (previously soldier B), who gave evidence for the Crown during the trial, was also jailed for four years. |
| He and unemployed Andrew Quinn, 26, of Glasgow, a former soldier with 5 Scots, appeared in court in June and admitted charges of conspiracy to possess explosives and conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods. | He and unemployed Andrew Quinn, 26, of Glasgow, a former soldier with 5 Scots, appeared in court in June and admitted charges of conspiracy to possess explosives and conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods. |
| Quinn is due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday. | Quinn is due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday. |
| Mr Justice Akenhead called for an immediate inquiry to examine how the offences were allowed to occur within the British Army's ranks. | 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 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." | He added: "These three serving soldiers have dishonoured their battalion, their regiment and their country and betrayed the trust that people placed in them." |
| The Ministry of Defence issued a statement defending its procedures for the management and control of arms and ammunition. | |
| It said a recent audit had "provided a substantial assurance that the arms and ammunition are being managed effectively, securely and in accordance with regulations". |