Orpington man Christopher Tappin jailed for 33 months in US for arms dealing (From News Shopper)

Orpington man Christopher Tappin jailed for 33 months in US for arms dealing

6:47pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News © Press Association and news reporter

EXTRADITED Orpington businessman Christopher Tappin has been jailed for 33 months for arms dealing after a deal with US prosecutors was given the all-clear, a court spokeswoman said.

The 66-year-old pleaded guilty last year to one count of aiding and abetting the illegal export of defence articles under a so-called plea bargain secured.

US District Judge David Briones fined Tappin 11,357.14 US dollars (£7,095), in addition to the prison sentence, at a court hearing in El Paso, Texas.

Judge Briones recommended that the former president of the Kent Golf Union should be allowed to serve his sentence in the UK but the decision ultimately rests with the US Bureau of Prisons, a spokeswoman for the court added.

Tappin will commence his sentence at the Allenwood prison in Pennsylvania and must turn himself in to start the term by March 8.