Army soldier gave Saving Private Ryan gun dealer stolen MOD equipment, court hears

AN ARMY soldier stole military equipment from the Ministry of Defence before handing it over to a firearms dealer who had previously made guns for the film Saving Private Ryan, a court heard.

Staff Sergeant Andrew Tongue, 43, took parts including five receivers – described as “key” components to firearms – over four years while in cahoots with the late Gary Howard, who provided guns to companies in the entertainment industry.

Basingtoke magistrates' court heard that Staff Sgt Tongue was stationed in Tidworth, Wilts, when he “quite deliberately” removed the items from military premises.

Having admitted five counts of theft by an employee, Staff Sgt Tongue has now been handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work for carrying out the thefts while in a “position of trust”.

The court heard that police were alerted in July 2018 that Howard, who is now dead, was selling the parts and a search of his home uncovered several weapons in a hidden room behind a bookcase.

Robert Bryan, prosecuting, said officers found messages between him and Staff Sgt Tongue where Howard requested parts and the pair “discussed methods” of how to steal the equipment.

The court heard that some of the stolen materials were used to make “viable weapons” and that “the value of each completed weapon was around £3,000”.

Mr Bryan said: “The parts belonged to the military and were unavailable to the public. [Staff Sgt Tongue] cannot know where the parts might end up.

“Mr Tongue would know, and know only too well, in his position as a serving solider what the effect is of pulling a trigger on such a weapon and the devastating effect of such a weapon.”

He added: “Military weapons are for the military and he quite deliberately removed that from the military.”

In mitigation, Richard Atkinson said that some of the items had been “found in a metal skip” and were “items of scrap open to anyone walking past”.

Mr Atkinson told the court that Staff Sgt Tongue “remains a trusted individual” and despite obtaining them “unlawfully” – he had given the parts to “someone who held a Home Office licence to use them lawfully”.

Addressing Staff Sgt Tongue, District Judge Stephen Apted said: “You stole these five upper receivers which have been described as key component parts of firearms.”

The judge said this had happened while he was “employed in a position of trust”.

Staff Sgt Tongue was handed a ninemonth prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay court costs of £85 and a surcharge fee of £154.

has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.

‘The parts belonged to the military ... He cannot know where the parts might end up'