Former soldier pleads guilty to firearm charges

Bryce Pounder was due to stand trial at Belfast Crown Court

A former soldier has pleaded guilty to having explosives and a gun linked to the East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

Bryce Pounder, 37, was due to stand trial at Belfast Crown Court on three charges.

Before the trial got under way, lawyers asked that Pounder be re-arraigned on all three charges.

Mr Pounder, from Parker Street in Belfast, was among four men who were arrested during a series of police raids in Belfast in November 2018.

He was not accused of membership of the UVF, a loyalist paramilitary organisation, or any paramilitary offences.

At a previous hearing a court was told that police had recovered a pipe bomb, handgun silencer and assorted ammunition at Pounder's apartment.

A previous court hearing was also told that some of the material was found in a schoolbag and holdall under the bed.

Standing in the dock, Mr Pounder entered guilty pleas to all three charges including possessing explosives and an article for use in terrorism. He also admitted possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances.

Mr Pounder's legal team told the court they were seeking a pre-sentencing report and a medical report regarding Pounder's possible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD).

Mr Pounder was released on bail and he is due to be sentenced on 24 November.