Overview

• Soldier B admitted negligent performance at Bulford Military Court and received a six-month suspended sentence plus a £5,000 compensation order.
• The January 2019 incident happened during a hostage-roleplay exercise when he mistakenly loaded live rounds instead of blanks while reloading quickly in low light.
• The court heard a planned safety briefing was cancelled and that blank and live magazines looked almost identical, factors that reduced his culpability.
• Judge Jane England found he fired 23 live rounds in total, with the final seven causing the life-changing injuries to Soldier A.
• The victim underwent multiple reconstructive surgeries, lost 90 percent of a median nerve, developed PTSD and was medically discharged, and he said optional body armour likely saved his life.