Army munitions trial jury retires

The soldiers were serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of two soldiers accused of conspiring to steal explosives from an Army barracks.

During the three-week trial at Maidstone, the crown court has heard the explosives were to be passed on to associates in the criminal underworld.

The pair, only named as soldier X and soldier Y, deny charges of conspiracy to possess and steal explosives.

They were stationed at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, at the time.

Soldier X, a 37-year-old Colour Sgt, and soldier Y, a 28-year-old L/Cpl, were in the Fifth Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).

Cross-border

They also deny a third charge of conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods between 31 October 2007 and 16 February 2008.

The court heard how cross-border police investigators were led to Howe Barracks, following the discovery of military explosives concealed in a suitcase during a drugs raid at the Glasgow flat of Andrew Quinn (previously known as soldier A), a former serviceman with the 5 Scots.

The prosecution told the jury how a search of soldier X's locker at Howe revealed stashes of explosives and detonators.

Two other men - a 27-year-old sergeant, known as soldier B, and unemployed Andrew Quinn, 26, a former serviceman - 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 denied conspiracy to steal explosives.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 31 October 2007 and 16 February 2008, while they were stationed in Canterbury.

The jury was sent out on Thursday morning.