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Bullets soldier given three years Bullets soldier given three years
(about 1 hour later)
A British soldier has been jailed for three years for stealing bullets after a Northern Ireland training exercise. A British soldier who agreed to sell army ammunition to an undercover police officer for £50 has been jailed for three years.
Pte Christopher Trussler, 29, was arrested after an undercover operation into the sale of ammunition in the Chichester area of West Sussex. Christopher Trussler, 29, also told the officer that he could obtain an AK47 weapon and a rocket launcher.
He pleaded guilty in August to illegally possessing and stealing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition. 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.
Trussler has also previously been suspended from his army regiment based at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island. He admitted stealing the bullets after a Northern Ireland training exercise.
He was charged in June after an investigation involving officers from Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which combats gun crime in the black community. The soldier, a father to two young sons, was given a three-year prison sentence at Chichester Crown Court on Monday.
The soldier was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on Monday. He had previously admitted illegally possessing and stealing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Trust 'betrayed' Live bullets
Trussler was given three years for each count of illegal possession and theft, with the sentences to run concurrently. The police operation involved a meeting with Trussler being arranged in May 2007 at a leisure complex in Chichester.
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." 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.
Trussler was arrested after trying to sell the bullets on 24 May. He had kept them from an exercise in Northern Ireland. "He also said he could obtain an AK47 for £1,500."
His defence counsel previously said in mitigation he "forgot he had [the ammunition] on him, then tried to sell it on". 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.