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| Soldier admits stealing bullets | Soldier admits stealing bullets |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A judge has called on the Army to tighten its procedures after a soldier admitted stealing ammunition after a Northern Ireland training exercise. | A judge has called on the Army to tighten its procedures after a soldier admitted stealing ammunition after a Northern Ireland training exercise. |
| Pte Christopher Trussler, 29, admitted illegally possessing and stealing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition on May 24. | Pte Christopher Trussler, 29, admitted illegally possessing and stealing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition on May 24. |
| Trussler has been suspended from the Prince of Wales's Royal Regiment at Baker Barracks in Thorney Island, West Sussex, Chichester Crown Court heard. | Trussler has been suspended from the Prince of Wales's Royal Regiment at Baker Barracks in Thorney Island, West Sussex, Chichester Crown Court heard. |
| He was remanded in custody to await sentence on 10 September. | He was remanded in custody to await sentence on 10 September. |
| The court was told Trussler was arrested after an undercover operation involving Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which combats gun crime in the black community. | The court was told Trussler was arrested after an undercover operation involving Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which combats gun crime in the black community. |
| The prospect that an amount of ammunition is floating about isn't going to fill most of us with joy and happiness Judge Anthony Thorpe | The prospect that an amount of ammunition is floating about isn't going to fill most of us with joy and happiness Judge Anthony Thorpe |
| He was detained after trying to sell the bullets. | He was detained after trying to sell the bullets. |
| Judge Anthony Thorpe raised concerns about army procedures after hearing that Trussler kept the ammunition following a training exercise in Northern Ireland then tried to sell it. | Judge Anthony Thorpe raised concerns about army procedures after hearing that Trussler kept the ammunition following a training exercise in Northern Ireland then tried to sell it. |
| Judge Thorpe said: "This is a matter for real concern. | Judge Thorpe said: "This is a matter for real concern. |
| "If the Army's control of live ammunition on the face of it is that lax, one wishes to hear about it, as I would expect at the end of a training exercise weapons or ammunition should be accounted for. | |
| "I think the Army should consider very carefully how they approach matters in the future. | "I think the Army should consider very carefully how they approach matters in the future. |
| "In the current climate with the difficulties of weapons, the prospect that an amount of ammunition is floating about isn't going to fill most of us with joy and happiness." | "In the current climate with the difficulties of weapons, the prospect that an amount of ammunition is floating about isn't going to fill most of us with joy and happiness." |
| Judge Thorpe, who served in the Navy, also demanded to know how Trussler had been allowed to stay in the Army despite a string of convictions. | Judge Thorpe, who served in the Navy, also demanded to know how Trussler had been allowed to stay in the Army despite a string of convictions. |
| Previous convictions | Previous convictions |
| The court heard that Trussler had convictions dating back to 1996 when he committed two offences of theft. | The court heard that Trussler had convictions dating back to 1996 when he committed two offences of theft. |
| In 1997 he was convicted of a burglary, in 2000 of an offence of drunk and disorderly behaviour, in 2004 of making a false statement of benefits, in 2006 of obstructing an officer and in 2007 of drink driving. | In 1997 he was convicted of a burglary, in 2000 of an offence of drunk and disorderly behaviour, in 2004 of making a false statement of benefits, in 2006 of obstructing an officer and in 2007 of drink driving. |
| "As an ex-serving officer I would ask how he remained in the armed forces," said the judge. | "As an ex-serving officer I would ask how he remained in the armed forces," said the judge. |
| Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said Trussler had not meant to steal the bullets. | Charles Ward-Jackson, defending, said Trussler had not meant to steal the bullets. |
| "He didn't deliberately take the ammunition from Northern Ireland, he came into possession of it quite legitimately as a result of a training exercise," he said. | "He didn't deliberately take the ammunition from Northern Ireland, he came into possession of it quite legitimately as a result of a training exercise," he said. |
| "He forgot he had it on him then tried to sell it on." | "He forgot he had it on him then tried to sell it on." |
| But William Emerson, prosecuting, told the court that a soldier is expected to declare any leftover ammunition at the end of a training session and that this was a matter of trust. | But William Emerson, prosecuting, told the court that a soldier is expected to declare any leftover ammunition at the end of a training session and that this was a matter of trust. |
| Trussler was arrested by anti gun-crime officers after an investigation into the sale of bullets in the Chichester area. | Trussler was arrested by anti gun-crime officers after an investigation into the sale of bullets in the Chichester area. |
| It is believed the soldier's crime came to light as a result of a tip-off to police. | It is believed the soldier's crime came to light as a result of a tip-off to police. |