Three soldiers were jailed and thrown out of the Army after admitting charges relating to a money-making plot to smuggle guns out of Iraq.

A court martial heard how non-commissioned officers from the Yorkshire Regiment bought cheap pistols on the Iraqi black market and smuggled them back in Army vehicles to Germany.

Once back at base the guns were then sold to other soldiers.

Yesterday, four soldiers who either bought or hid weapons at their base in Germany admitted their role in the scam last year and were sentenced at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Lance Corporal Ross Phillips, 22, was jailed for five years and eight months after admitting possessing a prohibited pistol.

Private Shane Pleasant, 26, was jailed for five years and four months after admitting the same offence.

Lance Corporal Ben Whitfield, 24, received a sentence of two years and eight months after admitting trying to pervert the course of justice. All three were dismissed from the Army.

Private Robert Marlow, 22, escaped jail after admitting trying to pervert the course of justice but was ordered to serve six months in an Army detention centre.

He was allowed to keep his job.