SAS man granted freedom on appeal

[Jazzy]

An SAS sniper jailed for possessing a pistol has told of his disbelief at being imprisoned by the country to which he dedicated his life to serving.



The 37 year-old soldier is to appeal this week against his 18-month sentence amid growing public anger over his case.



In the letter to Sally, his wife, Sgt Nightingale writes: “I have often written to you from wherever I have served but never thought I’d be writing to you from prison let alone one in England.



“I was prepared for anything when I went on operations. I knew that there was always the chance that I might say goodbye and not return. It comes with the job and I accepted that.



“But of all of the things I thought might happen, I never expected to be locked away by the country I’ve dedicated my life to serving.”



Sgt Nightingale, who served with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan, was jailed earlier this month after pleading guilty to possessing a Glock pistol given to him by members of the Iraqi special forces he helped train.



The weapon was sent back from Iraq in 2007 after Sgt Nightingale left the country, and secured at the SAS’s headquarters before being moved to a house Sgt Nightingale briefly shared with another soldier.



The pistol was discovered following a police raid but the sergeant claimed that he had no recollection of owning the pistol after he suffered brain damage in 2009.



He subsequently pleaded guilty at a court martial after being told that he faced five years in jail if he fought the charges and lost.

Full article



Do you think he deserved to be locked away? Why or why not?

 

[The Dragon Master]

No, he shouldn't have been jailed. It says that he suffered from brain damage which should have given him the ability to get a reduced/no sentence due to mental health problems. I dearly hope that he gets this overturned. This is no way to treat someone who's put his life on the line for his country, and who made an honest mistake due to the fact he suffered from brain damage.

 

[Evil Eye]

Well... if he actually had brain damage, I'd say that's a valid excuse. Judging people for things they can't even remember seems mistaken at best. (Help them regain their memories and then pass judgement

)

In any case, a prison sentence of over a year for just one gun seems like a rather disproportionate punishment.

 

[Jazzy]

Isn't owning a gun in Britain illegal to begin with?

 

[The Dragon Master]

Isn't owning a gun in Britain illegal to begin with?

Only if it's still able to fire a bullet and you need a licence if it still can fire. I think you need a licence for both and inactivated one and an activated one.

 

[Jazzy]

IMO, SAS's headquarters and the other soldier are just as guilty for allowing him to have the gun in the first place. Wonder why there was a raid of where he was staying. Perhaps someone ratted him out?

 

[Raven]

Welcome to England. We screw over the people who protect us.



No he shouldn't have even been charged, He didn't even pack his bags.

 

[Headliner]

An SAS soldier is released from detention after his sentence for possessing a Glock pistol is suspended by the Court of Appeal.

View the full article

 

[The Dragon Master]

Finally!

 

[Raven]

Good news, but wonder what he will do now. Don't think he could go back in the SAS after being named.

 

[The Dragon Master]

I don't think it matters much about being named, just as long as he didn't talk about what he does/did in the SAS.