Soldier jailed over rifle theft

L/Cpl James Piotrowski was described as a danger to the public

A soldier from Birmingham who served in Iraq has been jailed for seven years and four months by a court martial for handling a stolen assault rifle.

L/Cpl James Piotrowski pleaded guilty to possessing and handling the SA80 after another soldier stole it from Wellington barracks in London in 2004.

He also admitted at the hearing in Colchester, Essex, to one charge of head-butting a military police officer.

Piotrowski's family claimed he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

The panel described him as a dangerous offender saying they would have given him an indeterminate sentence to protect the public if they had the power.

The soldier was at the centre of a manhunt in Birmingham when he went missing from his barracks in November 2004.

He also went absent without leave in January 2005 - the day before he was due to face court martial over the previous incident.

L/Cpl Piotrowski served for three months in Iraq with the Irish Guards.