Just to bring this one to popular attention we have a sad story, doubtless dubious in parts, resulting in a conviction and jail term for a 11yr special forces veteran who seems to have done little, with any kind of intent, to warrant it.
Full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9669410/SAS-war-hero-jailed-after-betrayal.html
Now I dont buy the notion he didnt know he had the Glock somewhere and I dont buy he was presenting it to the Regiment as a trophy. I know one scaley for instance who came back from exercise in Germany with his units vehicles mysteriously 100-200kg overweight each from various items of contraband secured behind panels etc. I also know a, then, full-screw who came back from an EOD course with a fist-size ball of….er….modelling clay that he used to toss around his house to upset visitors!. Squaddies “find” stuff and smuggle it anywhere they think they can…thats been the case, and documented, since the first human societies sprang up.
What gets me is that this pistol was something Sgt Nightingales colleagues, under oath, have attested was a gift and was found by the police sealed in a locked box consistent with the description of how the weapon came to be in his possession. This is clearly a different case than some halfwit thug with a lengthy criminal record getting caught with a sawn-off 12 gauge in his car. One represents a clear threat to society and one, well, doesnt!.
Was this guy in the wrong for having the weapon in his possession…yes. Does he deserve some form of administrative punishment for his lack of dilligence…yes. Does he represent a threat to our society such that he needs to be incarcerated, his family’s welfare threatened and have his, by all accounts distinguished, career wrecked…not in any way!?. How justice is served by jailing this guy personally I cannot comprehend.
If you agree an online petition can be found here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/466/483/779/freedom-for-this-sas-hero-sgt-danny-nightingale-now/
By: bazv - 16th November 2012 at 18:08
Signed…far too harsh given some of the circumstances !
rgds baz
By: John Green - 16th November 2012 at 13:51
This has all the standard ingredients that comprise a monumental travesty, the more especially when, as someone has previously mentioned, we consider the kid glove treatment recently accorded to a certain Islamic cleric.
As well as signing the petition, letters please to Theresa May as well as letters directly to Mr. Nightingale. Does anyone know which prison he is in or, has he appealed his sentence?
Believe me, things of this nature respond well to numbers. The more that complain – repeatedly, the more notice that will be taken.
By: MSR777 - 15th November 2012 at 17:12
This is appalling. All the more so, following the release on bail, of that b*****d Abu Qatada, an individual dedicated to destroying all of the ideals that civilised society holds dear, the same ones that the likes of Danny Nightingale, are willing to give their lives for. This judgement is an obscene nonsense, and must be overturned. Petition signed.
By: charliehunt - 15th November 2012 at 15:01
Yes, it is a sad story and it does seem that common sense was not used at any point and that the “regulations” were all that mattered. Having said that he took a chance and presumably knew he was, so I find my sympathies divided.
By: Jonesy - 15th November 2012 at 14:46
Thanks lads. As you say Al its the harshness I find difficult to square off here – especially from a court-martial. It seems incomprehensibly easier for the MOD Police to get the pistol checked forensically for GSR to prove its not been fired – clearly supporting the contention this was a gift tucked away and not an active weapon.
If it was so proved the pistol is sent to the RMP Armoury for deactivation and then returned to the Sergeant with an invoice for work undertaken ‘on his behalf’. Shortly after he gets a letter in the post for his court-martial bollocking and slap-on-the wrist fine. He keeps his job, his family dont stand to lose their home and the taxpayer doesnt have to pick up the bill supporting the prison stay of a man who represents no threat to our society to require him be segregated from it.
By: Al - 15th November 2012 at 14:24
Taking back souvenirs is nothing new – there’s still a French sabre around somewhere that one of my Gordon Highlander ancestors took back from the early 1800 Peninsular Wars.
The penalty does seem very harsh, but at least it was handed out my a military court martial by his peers, not by a civilian court…
By: hampden98 - 15th November 2012 at 13:18
When my dad came back from the pacific at the end of WW2 he had acrued quite a selection of trophies (he didn’t see action however). He told me he had a pistol, grenade (live), sword and various other Japanese memorabilia. The Navy, wise to this type of thing ordered all personel to hand in their equipment to clear customs. The items to be handed back once in port.
Of course the items were never returned and were dumped overboard.
Should my dad have been locked up for this. Nah. Given a slap probably for being bloody dangerous, but not locked up. It’s what servicemen do.
By: Scott Marlee - 15th November 2012 at 12:47
signed, bloody stupid locking him up for this, i said on the optional comment section below on the petition page if he burned a copy of the koran ( i meant to put poppy) he would be let off, i messed up, but signed it non the less
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November 15, 2012 at 10:21 am