Danny Nightingale: memory loss led to changes to gun and ammunition story

Former SAS sniper says he ‘confabulated’ and may have latched on to housemate’s explanations of how he came by weapons

The former SAS sniper Danny Nightingale has firmly denied that a gun and ammunition found in his bedroom belonged to him, despite originally telling police the weapons were his and pleading guilty to the offences in a court.

Nightingale told a court martial that he suffered memory blanks as a result of an illness he suffered while taking part in an endurance run in the Amazon and had “confabulated” – filled in the gaps with false versions of how he came by the weapon and ammunition.

The soldier’s case is that the pistol and ammunition belonged to another member of the SAS with whom he shared the house where the items were found.

Giving evidence at Bulford military court in Wiltshire, Nightingale, 38, told how he joined what was described as “the unit” in 2001. He said his specialist skills included driving, medical work, den making and surveillance as well as sniping.

The court was told that he had invented a type of dressing for chest wounds that was used by the military across the world and by ambulances services in the UK and US.

Nightingale revealed that he served in Iraq in 2007, and became emotional as he recalled seeing two colleagues die in a helicopter crash. He described suffering his serious illness in 2009, during which he spent three days in a coma, which had left gaps in his memory.

In September 2011, he and his housemate were serving in Afghanistan when they were told their home in the UK had been raided and guns and ammunition found.

The housemate, identified as soldier N, has admitted one of the two Glock pistols found in the house and much of the ammunition was his and is serving a two-year sentence.

Originally Nightingale said the other pistol belonged to him and had been given to him by Iraqis he worked alongside in 2007. He said he had accumulated the ammunition – more than 300 rounds – because he worked as a range instructor and had kept some of it at home, rather than return it to stores, to save time.

But in the witness box on Friday, Nightingale said he was a “diligent” soldier who would not have operated in such a way.

Asked by his barrister, William Clegg QC: “Today do you believe that the gun was given to you by an Iraqi national?”

Nightingale replied: “I do not.”

Clegg: “Do you believe the gun was yours?”

Nightingale: “I do not.”

Clegg: “Today do you believe that the ammunition was yours left over from the range?”

Again Nightingale replied: “I do not.” He said he got to know very few Iraqis while he was there, and only got along well with one.

Clegg told the board hearing the case that Nightingale’s earlier admission to police and in court were “false confessions”.

He suggested the Glock pistols had been brought into the UK by soldier N. He had good reason to try to pass the blame …read more