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Bullets soldier given three years | Bullets soldier given three years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British soldier who agreed to sell army ammunition to an undercover police officer for £50 has been jailed for three years. | |
Christopher Trussler, 29, also told the officer that he could obtain an AK47 weapon and a rocket launcher. | |
Trussler was caught in a covert sting in Chichester, West Sussex, by Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which combats gun crime in the black community. | |
He admitted stealing the bullets after a Northern Ireland training exercise. | |
The soldier, a father to two young sons, was given a three-year prison sentence at Chichester Crown Court on Monday. | |
He had previously admitted illegally possessing and stealing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition. | |
Live bullets | |
The police operation involved a meeting with Trussler being arranged in May 2007 at a leisure complex in Chichester. | |
William Emerson, prosecuting, told the court: "During a discussion, the defendant told the undercover officer that he had 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition for sale, and a price was agreed of £50. | |
"He also said he could obtain an AK47 for £1,500." | |
Trussler and the officer went to his barracks, in Thorney Island, Hampshire, where he handed over a box containing live bullets. | |
He was arrested at Baker Barracks on 6 June. | |
The ammunition was traced to Northern Ireland, where Trussler had been posted during 2005 and 2006. | |
Mr Emerson said in court: "In interview [with police]... he explained that he came across the ammunition from a live firing exercise and that he had it for a number of months, and [he] admitted to failing to return the ammunition." | |
The ammunition Trussler was selling would have been compatible with a number of types of firearm Det Insp John Loudon | |
Richard Tutt, defending, said Trussler obtained the ammunition legitimately, but "forgot he had it on him, then tried to sell it on". | |
Mr Tutt said his client had also suffered a marriage breakdown, which led to him falling in with "an inappropriate crowd" and turning to drink and drugs. | |
Trussler will now be automatically discharged from the Army, Mr Tutt added. | |
In sentencing, Judge Anthony Thorpe told him: "Great trust is placed in members of the armed forces over the handling of weapons and live ammunition, and you have betrayed that trust and brought disgrace on your regiment." | |
Operation Trident's Det Insp John Loudon said: "The type of ammunition Trussler was selling would have been compatible with a number of types of firearm and undoubtedly would have had an extremely harmful effect on a number of communities." | |
Trussler has several previous convictions dating back to 1996, for offences including theft, burglary and drink-driving. | Trussler has several previous convictions dating back to 1996, for offences including theft, burglary and drink-driving. |
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