Soldier denies explosives theft

The soldiers were serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

A soldier had hidden in a barracks locker enough explosives to "bring down a small skyscraper", a court has heard.

He is one of two servicemen on trial at Maidstone Crown Court accused of conspiring to steal explosives to be sold on to criminal associates.

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.

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

Soldier X, a 37-year-old colour sergeant who owned the locker, and soldier Y, a 28-year-old lance corporal, were in the Fifth Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).

The pair also deny a third charge of conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods.

The haul was uncovered during a search at Howe Barracks on 15 February. Soldier X was arrested outside his home in Scotland hours later.

'Sweating' explosives

He allegedly divided seven sticks of PE4 explosives and detonators on the top and bottom shelves of the locker in his office.

A full transcript of his arrest interview at Folkestone Police Station was read to the jury.

Soldier X claimed he noticed a green metal box in his office before Christmas 2007 while preparing to go to Afghanistan, but did not force it open until February, when he found the "sweating" explosives inside.

He said: "I knew straight away that all these things together shouldn't be together because obviously they could create a big explosion, so I separated them."

In the interview, soldier X told police he had served 20 years in the Army, but had been demoted from the rank of sergeant major after receiving an £80 fine for a drunk and disorderly offence in Cyprus.

Debt of £80,000

He claimed he had not reported the explosives discovery because he thought he was being set up and wanted to confront his colleagues first.

Soldier X told officers: "This could probably end my career again.

"I've got three-and-a-bit years to go, a lot riding on this, my pension, my house, my wife, my two kids."

He admitted to police he was £80,000 in debt but denied stealing the explosives.

Two other men, unemployed Andrew Quinn, 26, a former serviceman with the 5 Scots, and soldier B of 5 Scots, appeared in court in June.

They pleaded guilty to explosives and conspiracy charges, but but denied a charge of conspiracy to steal explosives.

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

The court earlier heard cross-border police searched Howe Barracks following the discovery of military explosives at Quinn's flat in Whitehill Place, Glasgow, on New Year's Eve last year.

The trial continues.