Soldier guilty of smuggling guns

The guns were to be smuggled out of Iraq for sale in Germany

A British soldier has been found guilty of plotting to smuggle guns out of Iraq and sell them at his base in Germany.

A court martial heard how L/Cpl Anthony Creswick was involved in selling illegal pistols bought on the black market in Basra.

The panel heard how Creswick sold the guns with his colleague from the 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, L/Cpl Michael White.

White has admitted his role in the operation he ran with Creswick in 2005.

Creswick was found guilty of three charges of selling prohibited weapons and has already admitted charges of possessing an illegal gun and ammunition.

But he was acquitted of a further charge of supplying a Class A drug, in relation to an allegation that he traded one gun for cocaine.

The panel of six officers and senior non-commissioned officers at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, cleared another soldier, Sgt James Malone, of a single charge of possessing three hand grenades.

White and Creswick will be sentenced on 23 November.