A MAN who was accused of wrongly claiming hundreds of thousands of pounds in military pension he wasn't entitled to has been cleared by a jury.

Former Royal Marine Mark Sims, 48, had faced charges relating to allegations that he illegally pocketed the money over a 12-year period.

But, following a four-day trial at Salisbury Crown Court, Mr Sims was found not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Mr Sims, of Wynsome Street, Southwick, had been said to have received £106,835.76 in War Disablement Pension by fraud between 2007 and 2013.

It was also alleged he failed to declare to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency that he was back in the Marines.

He was further accused of deception by failing to notify a change of condition upon which he obtained £170,933.87p in pension from 2000 to 2007 and retaining a wrongful credit of £27,157 between 2000 and 2012.

The final matter related to him allegedly gaining a pecuniary advantage by deception in October 2000 by saying he did not have a War Disablement Pension.

Mr Sims, who now works in marine security, had denied all the charges .