Serving Soldier Jailed for Passing Military Bullets
Lance Corporal Sentenced for Ammunition Scandal
Ralstan Pusey, 31, a Lance Corporal with the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, has been jailed for 15 months and immediately kicked out of the Army. He was caught red-handed passing on military-issue bullets, a serious breach of trust and the Firearms Act 1968.
Ammunition Linked to Army and Criminal Underworld
The case blew open after police stopped a car in Luton on 9 November 2016. Inside, officers discovered a loaded handgun and 97 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammo stashed in unusual containers — including an iPhone box. The driver of the vehicle was later jailed for six years for firearm possession.
Further investigations led the Met’s Specialist Crime South team to trace the ammunition back to Pusey.
Forensic tests revealed Pusey’s fingerprints on the ammo containers, and the bullets were confirmed to be from a batch made exclusively for the British Military in July 2010. It emerged Pusey likely got hold of the rounds while on duty in Germany during firing exercises.
Denial, Arrest and Guilty Verdict
Pusey denied any knowledge or involvement when arrested in April 2017. But the jury at Kingston Crown Court didn’t buy it. Despite being cleared of theft, he was convicted of possessing prohibited ammunition on 4 March 2024 and sentenced five months later.
Detective Constable Leon Ure said: “This was an unusual case which opened up as a result of meticulous forensic work. Officers narrowed down the bullet source to the British Army, and the jury was convinced it was Pusey who passed them on.”
“Possessing ammunition is a very serious offence. Criminals seeking firearms to fuel gang violence on London’s streets rely on a black market for ammo.”
This case shines a harsh light on the dangers of military equipment falling into illegal hands, threatening public safety and national security.
