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.