SAS sniper Danny Nightingale will face a retrial over illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition, a military court heard today.

Sgt Nightingale answered not guilty to both charges put to him at the preparatory hearing, and will again face trial - expected to start on July 1 - for the possession of a Glock 9mm and more than 300 rounds of ammunition found during a search of his service accommodation near Hereford.

Last year Sgt Nightingale, 38, served three months of a fifteen month sentence.

However this was then reduced and the conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after it was found he was placed under improper pressure to plead guilty.

At today’s hearing Judge Advocate Jeff Blackett dismissed a last-minute claim that prosecutors improperly consulted with the Adjutant General’s office on whether or not to pursue the case.

Sgt Nightingale's council, Simon McKay, presented a series of emails between the Director of Service Prosecutions and the military chain of command that had been leaked by a Ministry of Defence source.

However Judge Blackett said he found no abuse of process.

Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch began campaigning last month to raise money towards the defence of Sgt Nightingale – who will return to at Bulford Military Court Centre to face trial.