Airman
jailed for having illegal gun
Gazette & Herald
10th January 2008
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
SENIOR aircraftman Mark Parker has been jailed for five
years after he was found to have a sawn off shotgun and ammunition
hidden in a garage close to his married quarters.
He also had a pair of surgical gloves next to the illicit
weapon, which had been sealed in bubble wrap. The 35-year-old,
who was based at Lyneham, will be thrown out of the RAF after
being jailed.
Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the
matter came to light after Parker's former wife made a complaint
to the police. The couple split up in 2006, she said, but
after reading his entry on the Friends Reunited website she
became concerned.
Miss Marlow said he had previously told her he had a shotgun
and she contacted the police to alert them of her worries.
Officers went to a leased garage on Comet Close in Lyneham,
and found the weapon on March 15.
Miss Marlow said that Parker told police where to find the
12 bore shotgun. Its barrel had been shortened to 27.4 centimetres
and was found with eight cartridges.
When questioned Parker said he had paid a nominal amount
for the gun but refused to say where he got it from. Parker,
of Comet Close, Lyneham, admitted possessing a prohibited
weapon.
Mike Jeary, defending, said his client accepted he faced
a mandatory five year jail term for the offence. He said
that as well as losing his liberty his client was also going
to lose his job and the RAF would lose a valuable
employee.
Flt Lt Conrad Steele-Benny told the court Parker had been
a senior aircraftman for five years and was well thought
of in the force. He had worked in Iraq and Afghanistan as
well as other bases across the world with both regular and
special forces. Before the breakdown of his marriage, he
said, Parker had been an active member of the Lyneham youth
club and had an
exemplary force record.
Jailing him Recorder Michael Cullum said: "It is a
remarkable fall from grace for someone who has served their
country."
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