Ammunition kept as 'lucky charm'

The soldiers were serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

A soldier claimed he kept illegal ammunition in his barracks dormitory as a lucky charm, a court has heard.

The L/Cpl is one of two servicemen on trial at Maidstone Crown Court accused of conspiring to steal explosives for 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.

'Daft superstition'

Soldier X, a 37-year-old Colour Sgt, and soldier Y, the 28-year-old L/Cpl, 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.

Soldier Y told arresting officers that he was superstitious and held onto the banned 7.62mm round with the intention of writing his name on it so he "didn't get shot" in Afghanistan.

The jury heard police woke soldier Y in his dormitory in Howe Barracks at dawn on 15 February, arrested him and took him to Folkestone Police Station.

Smoke grenades, noise cartridges and 55 blank belted rounds were found.

Soldier Y said he had found the round on Salisbury Plain during a training exercise.

He said: "It's just a daft superstitious thing, that's all it is."

Identification card

He added: "I should have handed that back, I should have reported that, given it to a senior or put it in the amnesty box."

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 admitted charges of conspiracy to possess explosives and conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods.

But they 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 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.

Officers also found soldier Y's British Army identification card at the premises and 2kg of heroin.

The trial continues.