Royal Marine reservist facing jail after stealing assault rifles, explosives and thousands of rounds of ammunition from base
Martin Shannon, 43, nicked the arms over a four-year period and buried them in the New Forest
A ROYAL Marine reservist is facing jail for stealing firearms, grenades, plastic explosive and ammunition from a base.
Martin Shannon, 43, stole the weapons over four years and buried them in the New Forest.
The married dad of three’s haul from RM Poole, Hants, included a rifle, shotguns and pistols.
He was arrested in a sting trying to sell arms to a cop he thought was a black market buyer.
Shannon, of Southampton, admitted eight counts of possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate via video link at the Old Bailey.
He further admitted two counts of having an explosive substance and three counts of transferring a prohibited weapon.
The marine also admitted one count of transferring prohibited ammunition and one count of possessing a firearm without a firearms certificate.
His haul of weapons included an automatic assault rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, a sawn-off shotgun, as well as high explosive grenades and almost two thousand rounds of various types of ammunition.
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Kevin Hill, defending Shannon, asked that his client undergo a psychiatric assessment ahead of sentence.
He said: "He’s been seen by the mental health department in prison and has been transferred by the prison for some psychiatric assessments.
"There’s some psychiatric history the solicitor has returned to his GP and other relevant medics in relation to his psychiatric issues."
Hill said Shannon showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sentence is in December.
Judge Richard Marks, QC, told Shannon to expect jail.