Accused sniper blames memory loss at court martial

An SAS sniper accused of possessing a pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition has blamed memory loss for originally confessing to the crime, a court heard today.

Sergeant Danny Nightingale, 38, said he "confabulated" and might have latched on to his housemate's explanations for how the Glock 9mm handgun and 338 rounds of ammunition were found in his bedroom.

Giving evidence at his court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, Sgt Nightingale denied that the arsenal was his.

He said he was suffering problems with his memory following a severe brain injury in 2009 - after which he spent three days in a coma - and what he told police in 2011 was incorrect.

Sgt Nightingale said: "I have physical or tangible memory. I have no recollection of receiving the gun. However, hindsight of seeing statements etc, I now know that Soldier N had told me that he had been given a pistol and that he had ammunition there.

"I have seen (my superior) and been told what is in the house and Soldier N said everything else in the house was his bar what was in the bedroom. I have always maintained that I am a very diligent individual and did not understand how it could be there.

"But in the same breath I appreciate I do have a memory issue and so I could put it down that somehow, that even though I have no tangible memory of it, I had received something.

"The only time I had been in Iraq was 2007. The only way it could have come back, as I have no memory of it, would be in a box. That's the best I can explain for the gun."

The trial was adjourned until Monday.