Royal Marine reservist in court on illegal weapons charges

A Royal Marine reservist has appeared in court charged with firearms offences.

Martin Shannon, 43, from Hythe in Southampton, was arrested near Winchester on September 1 following a covert operation by the National Crime Agency's armed operations unit.

He was charged with offences relating to the sale of a prohibited weapon, possession of a shortened shotgun, purchase of 1,400 rounds of ammunition, and possession of seven HE grenades.

Rob Lewin, head of specialist operations at the NCA, said: "At this time, there is no link to terrorism nor is there any link to the arrest made last week by our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service."

Shannon was remanded in custody after the hearing at Reading Magistrates' Court, the NCA said.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 30.