Jailed SAS man: case to be reviewed

Nov 20 2012

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has intervened in the case of jailed SAS sergeant Danny Nightingale, writing to the Government's top legal officer to ask him to review whether his prosecution for illegal possession of a gun was properly handled.

Mr Hammond has asked Attorney General Dominic Grieve to consider if proper consideration was given to the question of whether a prosecution would be in the public interest before the case was brought to court martial, said the Ministry of Defence.

Sgt Nightingale, a father of two who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is serving an 18-month sentence at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, Essex, after admitting possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

MPs will get an opportunity to raise concerns about his case with Solicitor General Oliver Heald this afternoon, after Canterbury MP Julian Brazier secured a debate in the House of Commons.

An MoD spokesman said: "The Defence Secretary has this morning asked the Attorney General for advice in relation to the case of Sgt Danny Nightingale.

"He has written to the Attorney General asking him to review whether the public interest test has been applied appropriately in this case."