A LOVE-STRUCK soldier who dressed as a military policeman to gain access to Aberystwyth University and his former girlfriend has been jailed for 30 months.

Conner Jones, 19, was armed with a Heckler and Koch pistol and had fake ID but security staff refused to allow him into Block 19 at the Penglais campus.

Swansea Crown Court heard he had been trying to get to the student, who he had been stalking for more than a year.

Jones admitted stalking by carrying out a series of acts and possessing a firearm and an extendable baton in a public place.

He also admitted sending her unwanted text messages, following her and repeatedly parking close to her accommodation.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, said Jones, of Twyn Gwyn Farm Lane, Mynydd Islwyn, Caerphilly, had been in a relationship with the student for more than a year.

But after they broke up in 2016 he began to stalk her, which included accessing her social media accounts and following her in his car.

Jones later joined the Army and the victim began a degree course in Aberystwyth.

On 17 March of this year Jones turned up at Penglais wearing the full uniform of a military policeman and claiming to be looking for a private who had gone absent without leave.

Mr Wright said Jones wore a high visibility jacket with a Royal Military Police display on front and back, a red beret, a holster containing a gun and the baton and a pair of handcuffs.

He introduced himself as a lance corporal and said he believed the missing private was in Block 19, where the student was staying.

He was refused entry.

The student returned to spot Jones’ car parked close to her’s and called the police.

Jones was arrested the following day and officers found the military uniform, gun, baton, handcuffs and pellets in the boot of his car.

Jones’ barrister, Harry Baker, said his client had been in the Army at the time but not in the military police and had bought all the items over the internet.

He said Jones had been showing off “immaturely.”

Judge Geraint Walters said he did not accept that and no-one – including Jones – could say what would have happened had he got to the student.

“If this is the action of a sane person then it is very worrying," the judge said.

“What was he going to do to her after finding himself standing there in military uniform with a red beret, a gun and a baton?” asked the judge.

“This is truly disturbing and bizarre. He must have spent hours researching this, for what purpose ultimately?

“I think there is something more sinister about this offending. It is truly troubling that he acquired ammunition for that gun,” he added.

Judge Walters issued a restraining order banning Jones from contacting his victim.