Marine Jailed For Stealing Gun From Nuclear Base

Nov 25 2007 By Billy Paterson

Marine Jailed For Stealing Gun

A ROYAL Marine has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for stealing a gun from a nuclear submarine base.

John Hickman, 24, took the Browning 9mm automatic pistol when he was stationed at Faslane on the Clyde - home of Britain's Trident fleet.

A 600-rounds-a-minute SA80 assault rifle - accurate up to 400 metres - went missing from the base at the same time but has not been recovered.

On the black market, the rifle could fetch more than £1000, while the pistol would be worth £500.

Hickman was jailed following a court martial at Catterick Garrison army base, Yorkshire.

He was found guily of stealing the Browning and taking it with him when transferred to Northern Ireland.

No one has been charged over the missing SA80, which the MoD are investigating.

Terrorism experts warned last night the missing SA80 would pose a "real threat" if it fell into the hands of extremists.

Shane Brighton, of the Royal Institution for International Affairs at Chatham House, said: "The SA80 is an extremely effective assault rifle. It is built not only to kill people but to kill a lot of people effectively."

Richard Jones, of the Royal Armouries Museum, added: "It has great appeal to the criminal and terrorist fraternity."

The Ministry of Defence said last night: "The charges were brought following consultation with the Army Prosecuting Authority and he was charged under the Army Act.

"He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison and dismissed from Her Majesty's Forces."

Hickman, of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, was charged after the weapons went missing from the base near Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, in August 2005.

He was arrested in Country Antrim the next month.

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