Danny Nightingale Given Suspended Sentence

By Nick Pisa, in Wiltshire

A former SAS sniper has been given a two year suspended sentence for illegally possessing a gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

Sgt Danny Nightingale, 38, a veteran of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan was convicted earlier this month despite a high profile campaign.

He appeared at the sentencing hearing in full SAS uniform, accompanied by his wife and family where the judge criticised him for his vigorous battle against the army in fighting the case.

Father of two Sgt Nightingale had originally been found guilty last November and given 18 months in jail but the decision was overturned on appeal.

At his latest sentencing at the court in Bulford Camp near Salisbury, he stood and remained impassive as his wife Sally looked at him from the public benches.

Judge advocate general Jeff Blackett made it clear he took a dim view of the campaign to get the serviceman cleared saying it "bordered on contempt" and had "not been helpful".

The 9mm Glock pistol found in Sgt Nightingale's wardrobe

He added that by having the 9mm Glock pistol and 338 rounds of ammunition he had "endangered society", saying the country had already seen the effects of guns through tragedies at Hungerford and Dunblane.

He said: "A weapon is dangerous in the wrong hands, whether it originates from someone with criminal intent who is careless or someone with a baser motive.

"It has been said, and it is right, that you are not a danger to society. However what you have done has endangered society and for that reason your offending is serious."

The court had heard how the weapon and bullets were found in a wardrobe in Sgt Nightingale's house which he shared with another SAS soldier.

The items were found by police in September 2011 after a police tip off led them to the property in Hereford, which is the home of the elite SAS unit.

More than 300 round of ammunition were discovered under the bed

Sgt Nightingale, from Crewe, had told the court he suffered from brain injuries following a 2009 marathon in Brazil that had affected his memory and led to confusion.

However the judge said:"In short, the accounts you have given to this court lacked credibility and this court does not believe you."

The judge also dismissed Sgt Nightingale's claims that he had been targeted and said that suggestions "he was a scapegoat or a victim of political agenda are nonsense".

He added: "You are simply someone against whom there was a strong prima facie case of serious wrongdoing and, given the dangers to society caused by illegal firearms and their misuse, it was in the public interest to prosecute you.

"You have now had a fair trial before a civilian judge and an independent and impartial board.

"All of the issues you wished to raise and all the submissions you wished to make have been fully considered and verdicts properly given.

"It would have made no difference had you been tried before a civilian jury. The evidence against you was overwhelming and I have no doubt the verdicts would have been the same."

It emerged during the sentencing that the family has spent £120,000 in legal bills.

Sgt Nightingale said he was suffering memory loss after a head injury

Sgt Nightingale walked out of court but did not speak to the media. His wife Sally revealed military top brass had warned him he would face further action if he did.

Surrounded by her family and her father in law Humphrey, Mrs Nightingale said they would "take advice from counsel about an appeal".

She said:"We are obviously very disappointed with the sentence but pleased Danny will be coming home with us tonight.

"We really thought he was going behind bars as the judge left it to the very end to say the sentence was suspended."

When asked what she thought of the judge's stinging comments, she said: "That upset me. We have been very honest and open."

She added:"Nobody wants to go through what we've been through. I could never have imagined myself in this position. But we've done it for the right reasons and we have been true to ourselves so I have no regrets."

Her father-in-law said: "We are not coming out of here with a good feeling at all. When we had to listen to what was said earlier that was like a kick in the teeth to every one of us."

Sgt Nightingale left with his wife and family without making any comment. He  is due to be medically discharged in February.

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