Danny Nightingale

I have received a lot of mail concerning Sgt Danny Nightingale, an SAS sniper who is behind bars.

He admitted to the procession of a Glock pistol and live ammunition, which he had kept unsecured at his home. He was given the Glock as a gift by members of the Iraqi military in recognition of the service he had provided in their country. He had meant, he says, to have the gun deactivated and mounted as a souvenir but never got around to it.

Having accepted his guilt, something he says he did as he was told he would otherwise receive a five-year gaol sentence, he was sentenced to 18 months.

So, we have a man who has served his country with distinction (in Iraq and Afghanistan) and who is due to spend 18 months behind bars for holding an unsecured and prohibited weapon. His actions may have been stupid — but worthy of gaol?

There was a debate on all of this in the House of Commons last week, following a very public disagreement between two cabinet ministers — the Defence Secretary writing to the Attorney General asking if Danny Nightingale might be released and the AG's negative response coming in less than an hour.

The debate saw MPs from across the House calling for 'common sense'. It is also said that the PM is sympathetic to Sgt Nightingale's plight.

The whole matter will be coming up for an appeal and the sooner the better in my view. Let's hope that common sense prevails and a brave man who has served our country in difficult circumstances can get on with his job rather than sitting around under lock and key for the next 18 months at the tax payers' expense.

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