A British Army corporal has been jailed after stealing almost £150,000 worth of military equipment, including items "attractive to terrorists", and selling them on eBay.
Corporal Tarj Sevier, 32, stole Ministry of Defence supplies including night vision goggles, helmets, armour and bulletproof plates over a two-year period.
The non-commissioned officer, who served at Larkhill Garrison in Wiltshire as part of the Royal Logistic Corps, pleaded guilty to theft and converting criminal property.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison at Salisbury Crown Court.
Corporal Tarj Sevier appeared at Salisbury Crown Court
GOOGLE STREET VIEWProsecutor David Tremain told the court that 19 of the stolen items were deemed "attractive to criminal and terrorist organisations".
These included night vision goggles, ballistic plates for body armour, and helmets. Sevier stole the kit from the MoD beginning in April 2021, while being promoted from lance corporal to corporal during the investigation.
As part of what prosecutors called a "sophisticated" scam, he issued almost 9,000 items to personnel that were never received.
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Tremain told the court: "The defendant was creating records of fraudulent issues."
The true value of items taken from the Ministry of Defence was around £142,000, as Sevier didn't always list the items for their full value.
Police found so many items at Sevier's London residence in May 2023 that they had to return the next day with a van to seize them.
"Such a large quantity was collected that it was not reasonable, practically, to remove it that night," the prosecutor said.
Alongside 46 items found at his home, Sevier stored 11 stolen goods in his Army accommodation and 120 more in a self-storage locker.
Police recovered property worth £41,677, while items sold or listed for sale on eBay were worth £75,582.50.
Chaynee Hodgetts, defending, said Sevier was "naive and misguided" and now only had about £300 in his bank account, and no eBay account.
"It was spent on general items for his household and his family – nothing flashy. He was trying to provide a more comfortable standard of living for his partner and his child," she told the court.
In a letter to the court, Sevier wrote: "I felt I was unfairly treated at work and went about dealing with my emotions in the wrong way."
Judge Timothy Mousley KC estimated that Sevier made about £30,000 after eBay service fees. Sentencing him, the judge said: "I sentence you today for your behaviour towards your employer, who were the Army, which involved your stealing a large quantity of items which makes this a particularly serious offence."
