Celebs show support for ex-soldier's case

By hthompson

An ex-soldier is "overwhelmed" by the frenzy of public support generated by a Surrey Mirror story.

Last week, we reported how Paul Clarke is facing a minimum of five years imprisonment after finding a discarded shotgun and handing it into police.

The 27-year-old from Merstham found the sawn-off shotgun in March this year, handed it in to Reigate police station, where he was arrested immediately.

On November 10, a jury at Guildford Crown Court found him guilty of possessing a firearm – he is now facing a minimum of five years behind bars.

Since the story broke it has caused outrage across the world – and whipped up a frenzy of online debate and support.

Mr Clarke, who spent two years serving in the armoured military in Donchester, said: "It's been mad. I feel like a celebrity. I just want to thank everyone for all their support."

Over the weekend, Mr Clarke's court case was one of the most commented stories on social networking site 'Twitter' – getting more mention than 'Jedward' the controversial X-Factor contestants.

His case caught the attention of several celebrities, including comedians David Mitchell and Simon Pegg, star of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'.

And, Graham Lineham, creator of the hit TV sit-com Father Ted 'tweeted' in response to other comments on the story.

He wrote: "There'll be enough interest in Paul Clarke now [to] at least shed a little light on [the] situation. Wait for that before pitchforks/petitions".

Bloggers across the world have fiercely debated the 'strict liability' aspect of the law on which Mr Clarke was convicted – where the intention of anybody possessing a firearm is irrelevant.

A facebook group entitled 'Ex-soldier Paul Clarke should not go to jail for handing in a gun', has almost 700 members and his solicitor, Mr Lionel Blackman, has been interviewed on Radio 4 about the case.

Angry readers have also set up online petitions to send to 10 Downing Street, and have been writing to Crispin Blunt MP.

ThisisSurreytoday has also received comments from across the globe.

Mr Clarke said: "The support has just been overwhelming. I've had strangers coming up to me in the street telling me they support me."

But despite the public support, Mr Clarke is convinced he's going to prison.

He said: "The judge has to do his job, and his job is to rule on a conviction.

"I wish I had just thrown the gun in a bush now – however wrong that is. But I wanted to do the right thing."