British sniper returns to work days after being released from jail

Published on 03/12/2012 11:02

AN SAS sniper released from jail last week after winning a court appeal has returned to work, his wife said today.

Sergeant Danny Nightingale, 37, had his 18 months’ military detention for illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition overturned on Thursday by three appeal judges.

His wife Sally said he had been put back on the payroll but would now have to undergo tests regarding a brain injury which affected his memory.

“His identity has been revealed now, so it might be that he has to have a completely different role,” Mrs Nightingale added.

Sgt Nightingale, a father of two, from Crewe, Cheshire, is seeking to have the conviction quashed to clear his name, with an appeal expected to be heard next year.

Mrs Nightingale said it was “very important” to get the conviction overturned.

“We don’t think Danny should have to take a criminal conviction over this,” she said.

“It affects his whole career, it affects the rest of his life. There is a lot of places he couldn’t travel to or work in if he had this criminal conviction hanging over his head.”

Sgt Nightingale was jailed after admitting illegally possessing a Glock 9mm pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.

He claimed he could not remember having the pistol - given as a gift after he served in Iraq - due to his brain injury.

Judges concluded that the sentence was too harsh after a hearing at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London.

They cut the term to 12 months, said it should be suspended, and ordered Sgt Nightingale’s release after being told more than 100,000 people had signed a petition calling for the soldier to be freed.