Ex soldier sent nasty threats and sold stolen army gear on eBay

A former soldier has been convicted of threatening a man who provided him with stolen army equipment to sell online. Anthony Hardie, an ex Royal Logistic Corp serviceman turned eBay trader, sent a series of nasty messages to a man who sold him army boots and body armour.

He claimed the illegal kit supplier, who worked as a storeman for the army in Devon, owed him money and threatened to expose him to top brass. The messages included threats to send his Irish friends to pay him a visit at his home in Devon.

The Ministry of Defence uncovered the illegal trade in surplus kit and police traced Hardie via his online trading account. The 54-year-old, from Londonderry, appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on Friday.

He was originally charged with blackmail but the Crown accepted a plea to the charge of sending malicious communications with intent. Dan Pawson-Pounds, prosecuting, said in July 2022 the MoD noticed that material which it classed as ACTO (Attractive to Criminal and Terrorist Organisations) was being advertised for sale on eBay.

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They traced a number of payments between Hardie and a serviceman stationed in Devon between November 2020 and June 2021 involving just over £4,000 of army kit. The kit included 20 pairs of boots and sets of body armour. Items matching the description were later found and returned to the military.

The serviceman who stole the items told police he had been threatened by Hardie. The dispute between the two men started over a PayPal disagreement in which Hardie claimed the man owed him money.

WhatsApp messages sent by Hardie included threats to report him to police, photos of his house and promises to pay him a visit if he didn't get his money and more kit.

One message said: "If I go down you'll be going down as well." He also threatened the man's partner and said his friends would come and collect his debt.

Hardie later told police he would not have carried out any of the threats. His lawyer told the court he was suitable for rehabilitation.

Judge Martin Picton told Hardie: "You sent some really unpleasant messages. There may have been a commercial dispute but nothing to justify the messages you sent which were genuinely frightening to the recipient. The harm was significant and he didn't deserve to receive the messages you sent."

He said the maximum penalty for the offence was two years in jail but giving Hardie credit for his guilty plea that could be reduced to 14 months. Hardie was jailed for 14 months, suspended for 12 months and told to pay £200 costs.

The victim of Hardie's threats was given a suspended sentence at a previous hearing after pleading guilty to theft of military clothing.