FULL-TIME National serviceman Dave Teo Ming on Monday pleaded guilty to charges of being in possession of a rifle and live bullets.

Teo sparked a 20-hour manhunt on Sept 2, 2007, when he walked out of Mandai Hill camp with an SAR-21 rifle and eight rounds of bullets. He was arrested in a toilet of the Orchard Cineleisure shopping mall the following day.

In court on Monday, he admitted to two offences under the Armed Offences Act and one under the Corrosives, Explosives and Offensive Weapons Act.

He also pleaded guilty to a third charge of having a 40cm knife at a staircase in Block 22, Simei Street 1, in Melville Park on April 14, 2007.

Justice Tay Yong Kwang convicted Teo on all three charges.

Prosecution pressed for deterrent sentences to be meted out on the first two charges.

In a statement that was read out in court, Teo said he was "going crazy" after his girlfriend wanted to end the relationship.

He said he also faced financial problems and had no money to pay for his grandmother's medical bills.

He added in the statement that he hated five people and wanted to kill them.