Former soldier who 'wanted to sacrifice his life for Allah' on trial for firearms charges
A FORMER soldier who allegedly wanted to sacrifice himself for Allah is in court facing firearms charges.
Former soldier standing trial on firearms charges had tried to get to Syria in the past
Gavin Rae had already been stopped from travelling to Syria three times before he was arrested for trying to buy a pistol or sub-machine gun in Britain, Preston Crown Court heard.
Police tackled Mr Rae as he attempted to purchase the weapons, ammunition and a silencer, prosecutor Amanda Whyte QC said.
Mr Rae, 36, now known as Yaqub Rae, was detained in Turkey and sent back to the UK after traveling there with his family in July, 2015.
The trial into firearms offences continues at Preston Crown Court
He allegedly told an undercover officer that he wanted to buy a gun because the authorities thought he was a threat to Britain, and said: "I used to be in the infantry so trained with weapons."
Mr Rae, who was arrested in Crewe, Cheshire, joined the King's Division in February 1997 and was deployed to Cyprus before being discharged in 1998.
He pleaded guilty to four robbery offences five years later.
He allegedly told another undercover officer that he wanted to sacrifice his life for Allah while staying at a backpackers' hostel.
Mr Rae is accused of attempting to buy weapons and of trying to buy guns and ammunition - he denies all charges.
The trial continues.