Three soldiers who helped to pass military explosives on to the criminal underworld in Glasgow were jailed for a total of 28 years on Monday.

Col Sgt Garry Graham, 37, L Cpl Martyn Fitzsimmons, 28, and 27-year-old Sgt Kieran Campbell were serving with the 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) at the time and were stationed at Howe Barracks in Canterbury.

Maidstone Crown Court heard during a three-week trial that they were arrested following a drugs raid on a flat in Glasgow which uncovered a stash of military equipment hidden in a cupboard.

This led to a joint investigation by police in Scotland and England, and the subsequent arrests of the three soldiers.

Graham and Fitzsimmons were found guilty by a jury of possessing explosives between October 31, last year, and February 16. They were also convicted of conspiracy to dishonestly undertake or assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods.

Campbell had pleaded guilty to the same charges and gave evidence against his former colleagues.

The man to whom the explosives were passed on to in Glasgow - Campbell's brother-in-law Andrew Quinn - also admitted the same charges and will be sentenced on Thursday. The 25-year-old had also been with the same regiment but was not a serving soldier at the time, having been dismissed for failing a drugs test.

Jailing Graham and Fitzsimmons for 12 years each and Campbell for four years Mr Justice Akenhead said it caused him "great distress" to sentence soldiers who had served their country.

But he told them they had "dishonoured their battalion, regiment, the army and their country" and betrayed the trust put in them.

"These offences are extremely serious and are among the most serious serving soldiers can commit.

"They stemmed from dishonesty and the motive was money. It was a very dangerous dishonesty."

He added that they must have been aware of the explosives' criminal destination.

"They must have known that they were and had been sold to criminal gangs in Glasgow and would be used for criminal purposes.

"They must have been aware there was a risk that they could fall into the hands of groups committed to harming people in this country."

Mr Justice Akenhead also said the conspiracy went wider than the four men before the court as none had been convicted of stealing the explosives.

He called for an inquiry by the Army as to how those serving in a regiment not licensed to hold explosives came to be in possession.