Marine charged with guns theft

A Royal Marine from Northern Ireland has been accused of stealing two guns from a Scottish naval base, it was revealed today.

John Hickman (aged 24) from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, was released on bail after being formally charged at a court hearing in Dumbarton.

Hickman was arrested over the disappearance from Faslane on the Clyde of the firearms, believed to be an SA80 rifle and a 9mm Browning pistol.

He was detained in the North last month and charged at Dumbarton Sheriff Court with theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The alleged theft at the base, in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, which is home to Britain’s nuclear deterrent, took place between Thursday, August 22 and the following day.

A British Minsitry of Defence (MoD) police spokesman said today: “We can confirm that on Thursday September 29, MoD police detained a 24-year-old man in Northern Ireland on suspicion of involvement in an offence.

“He was questioned at an Antrim police station and subsequently arrested and charged with theft and unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

“He was remanded in custody and appeared before Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday October 3. He has since been released on conditional bail to report back at a later date.

“The man is a serving Royal Marine. His arrest is part of an ongoing MoD Police investigation into the theft of two weapons belonging to Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, based at HMNB Clyde.”

The SA80 rifle is capable of firing 600 rounds per minute and is accurate at a range of up to 400 metres, while the Browning 9mm semi-automatic handgun is the sidearm of choice for soldiers in close-quarter combat.