Jailed: Afghanistan veteran who kept bullets to show stepson

Former Lance Bombardier Johnathan Allmark, 25, claimed he had bought the fourteen NATO standard 5.56mm calibre bullets and two 'especially lethal' 0.22mm calibre rounds that expand on impact from an army surplus store to show to his stepson, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The dad-of-one later told police he'd bought the ammunition at an army surplus store in Wolverhampton presuming it had been deactivated, the court heard.

Allmark, of Fisher Road, Walsall, said he wanted the bullets to show his step-son what sort of ammunition he had used in Afghanistan while in the army.

The court was told how police were first alerted after a neighbour called to say he had seen Allmark carrying a gun last August.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said officers forced entry into Allmark's home but could not locate him or any firearms.

Allmark was arrested later that day after he voluntarily walked in to police at Bloxwich station and told officers he had ammunition stored at his partner's home in Edison Road, Bloxwich.

Mr Edwards said: "A search recovered fourteen 5.56mm bullets all bearing a NATO stamp and of the type that is standard issue assault rifle ammunition for the British Army.

"The two 0.22mm rounds were found in a rifle case and are especially lethal because they are a hollow bullet that expand on impact.

"The defendant told police he'd bought the bullets from a Wolverhampton army surplus store.

"However a check with the shop manager confirmed he didn't and wouldn't stock such items."

Mr Lee Egan, defending, said his client had presumed the bullets weren't live but agreed that he'd been "sloppy and careless."

"It's clear the danger is that the ammunition could have fallen into wrong hands and used for nefarious purposes," he said.

The court heard how Allmark had served with the East Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan at a "difficult period in our country's armed services."

He is currently unemployed having left the army and worked for Birmingham City Council for a short while.

Mr Egan said: "He has a child of his own and two step children and bought the ammunition as a memento to show his stepson what sort of ammunition he'd used in the army.

"He wasn't even aware he'd got the .22 rounds in his rifle case until they were found by police and presumed he must have bought them from the same shop he'd got the larger bullets."

Jailing Allmark for six months Recorder Stephen Thomas said he'd given him credit for an early guilty plea to two charges of possessing expandable ammunition and ammunition for firearms without a certificate.

Wearing a black shirt Allmark listened intently as Recorder Stephen Thomas told him: "You have a good army service record and even after you left you didn't lose interest in weaponry and ammunition.

"I sentence you not on the basis that you intended to supply ammunition for it to be used for untoward purposes, but simply because the legislation is there to stop ammunition coming into circulation at all."

He added: "It is with some regret that I have to impose a custodial sentence so I will make it as short as I can."

Allmark was ordered to serve four months for possession of the 0.22 bullets and two months for possessing 5.56mm rounds with the jail terms to be served consecutively.