A SOLDIER who blasted his own car with a shotgun after a row with his ex-girlfriend, was given a chance to start a new life yesterday.

But Keiron Moss was drummed out of the Army on medical grounds and will be leaving Marne Barracks at Catterick to return to his home town of West Bromich.

Richmond magistrates urged him to see it as an opportunity to make a fresh start after he admitted charges of possessing a loaded firearm in public and failing to comply with the conditions of a shotgun licence.

Moss, 18, was ordered to complete a one-year community rehabilitation order and was given 70 hours' community punishment.

Jane Cook, prosecuting, told the court Moss was caught with the gun when another soldier heard shots being fired late at night on 8 Transport Regiment's base, next to the A1 in North Yorkshire, on June 2.

At first, he denied all knowledge of a weapon but changed his story when empty cartridges were found on the floor.

Moss then handed his single-barrelled shotgun to guards called in to investigate, and a second double-barrelled weapon was found during a detailed search.

Moss's own car was found to have been damaged by at least four separate blasts.

Ms Cook said, after his arrest, Moss became increasingly violent and fought military police officers called to escort him to Northallerton.

Yesterday, Moss was ordered to pay one of the officers £50 in compensation after admitting assault. Both weapons and more than 80 cartridges were also confiscated by the court.

Moss was also ordered to pay court costs of £120 and fined £50 for a separate offence of urinating in the street in Catterick Garrison on June 30.