A SOUTH Lakeland soldier has appeared at Carlisle Crown Court after ammunition was found in his bedroom at home.

Christopher Walker, 24, of Kent Close, Bowston, near Kendal, was due to be sentenced after previously admitting illegally possessing 59 rounds of machine gun ammunition and a military smoke grenade, which he had taken from a training camp in Wales.

He faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

But the hearing had to be adjourned because he was not legally represented.

The court heard that he was earning too much in the Army to qualify for legal aid, and had not arranged to pay for a solicitor or barrister on his own.

Prosecuting counsel Tim Evans said Walker, of the 4th battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was currently in custody at a military prison in Colchester after going absent without leave.

It was not known whether he would be allowed to continue in the Army when he is released in four weeks’ time, he said.

Walker will be back in court to be sentenced in February.

Judge Barbara Forrester told him: “It is very important that you are represented by a solicitor or barrister in these proceedings. They are very serious and they carry an immediate custodial sentence.”