US soldier jailed in Russia over theft and threats to kill

Gordon Black was convicted of theft (AP)

A court in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok has convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, sentencing him to three years and nine months in prison.

Staff Sgt Gordon Black, 34, flew to the Pacific port city to see his girlfriend and was arrested last month after she accused him of stealing from her, according to US officials and Russian authorities.