Jailed SAS soldier Danny Nightingale set to find out whether conviction will be quashed

Nightingale admitted illegally possessing a Glock 9mm pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition at a court martial

Former SAS soldier Danny Nightingale kisses his wife Sally outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London (Reuters)

Sergeant Danny Nightingale, the SAS soldier whose imprisonment caused national uproar, is to go before the Court of Appeal tomorrow to try and clear his name.

The 38-year-old was sentenced to 18 months by a court martial in November, after he admitted possessing a 9mm Glock pistol given to him by Iraqi forces he had trained as well as ammunition.

The soldier, who has 17 years service in the army, maintained he had forgotten about the firearm, which was brought home amongst his effects after he travelled back to the UK to help repatriate two friends killed in action.

News of his imprisonment led to a widespread campaign and he was freed three weeks later after successfully appealing his sentence which was cut to 12 months suspended. Tomorrow the Court of Appeal will consider a challenge to his conviction and decide whether it is in the interests of justice to order a retrial.

Sgt Nightingale insists that he only admitted the crime because he was under the impression that he would face a non-custodial sentence but risked five years detention if convicted.