Soldiers 'set up explosives plot'

The soldiers were serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Two soldiers who conspired to steal explosives from an Army barracks had hoped to pass them to associates in the criminal underworld, a court has heard.

The pair, who can only be referred to as soldier X and soldier Y, were stationed at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent at the time.

Their alleged activities were uncovered by Scottish police on New Year's Eve last year, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Both deny two charges of conspiracy to possess and steal explosives.

Soldier X and soldier Y, who were in the Fifth Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), also deny a third charge of conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods.

Identities withheld

The explosives include detonators, flares, smoke grenades, distraction grenades and other munitions belonging to the British Army.

Two other men - soldier A, who is a former serviceman with the 5 Scots, and soldier B of 5 Scots - appeared in court in June.

They pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess explosives and to conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods, but denied the charge of conspiracy to steal explosives.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 31 October 2007 and 16 February this year, while they were stationed in Canterbury.

Judge Sir Robert Akenhead ruled the identities of the men involved in the trial could not be made public on the grounds of their own safety in custody.

Prosecutor Anthony Prosser told the court police carried out a raid at the Glasgow flat of soldier A on 31 December last year.

'Transport explosives'

He was found hiding in the property, holding a shoe box containing £6,000.

Among other things, police discovered 2kg of heroin, and a suitcase containing a variety of explosives and bullets, and a British Army identification card belonging to soldier Y, a long-time friend of soldier A.

A search of the flat and soldier A's vehicle revealed further traces of the compound RDX, an active component of military plastic explosives.

Strathclyde and Kent Police launched a cross-border investigation which led to the arrests of the four men on 15 February, the court heard.

Police searching soldier X's lockers and storeroom at Howe Barracks found plastic explosives and all the items required to detonate them.

The trial continues.