DON'T BLOW ARMY CAREER WITH DRUGS; Shamed soldier's warning.

Byline: By Mark McGivern

A SHAMED Scots soldier has warned other squaddies against the drug abuse that cost him his Army career.

Fusilier Darren Bryce - a dad-of-three - was among 20 men to face the boot from the Army this week after a routine drug test at Glencorse Barracks in Edinburgh.

Bryce, 27, a soldier for eight years, admitted taking a cocktail of drugs at a party immediately before the drug testers swooped to test the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Yesterday, he was awaiting the final paperwork that will seal his fate among the ranks of those dishonourably discharged for taking drugs. Bryce, from Dalry, Ayrshire, said: "It looks like I've blown my career and I'm devastated.

"If anything, I'd like to warn other young soldiers not just to go with the flow when it comes to drugs.

"The only thing they can do if they want to hang on to their careers is to swerve drugs all together."

Bryce, whose urine was found to contain ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis, backed up claims that many soldiers are abusing drugs.

He added: "It's a big problem in the Army, just as it is outside, but people in civilian jobs can get away with it no problem.

"I don't condone the behaviour. I just wish I could be given a second chance."

The Record told this week how former King's Own Scottish Borderers Private Robert McAuley admitted selling thousands of ecstasy pills to fellow soldiers.

The story prompted the outfit's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Harkness, to speak of his personal shame at the conduct of his men.

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SPEAKING OUT: Lt Col Harkness in the Record