Ex-para jailed for selling stolen Army medals on eBay
A former paratrooper has been jailed after stealing campaign medals from his comrades then selling them on eBay.
Simon Rogers, 29, of Northamptonshire, took Army medals awarded for service in Iraq and Afghanistan from soldiers stationed in Colchester.
He admitted stealing the medals and also possessing stolen weapons.
At Northampton Crown Court, Judge Richard Bray sentenced Rogers to three years, saying the actions "must have caused great distress".
"This was a very mean offence in breach of trust against persons in your own battalion," Judge Bray said.
Rogers was stationed at the barracks after suffering a suspected heart attack.
Medals recovered
He took four operational medals from 2 Paras barracks in September 2008 and sold them on the internet auction site.
He claimed he had found them in a skip.
Military police later found hundreds of items of equipment at his home, including live ammunition and detonators.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) police said: "The Armed Forces deserve the best possible kit and support and the MoD takes a zero-tolerance approach to any theft, fraud or deception which deprives them of that.
"Buyers also need to be aware. There is a thriving market in military goods but it is their responsibility to check that the kit they buy is being sold legally.
"We're delighted that we've been able to recover these medals and will ensure that they're returned to their rightful owners."
Rogers pleaded guilty to seven offences of theft and one of holding ammunition without a firearms certificate.
