A Calgary judge has ruled a former solider who plotted an elaborate attack on a Veterans Affairs building be sentenced to four years in prison.

Glen Gieschen is getting 18 months credit for time served after pleading guilty in November to possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a weapon.

Gieschen, who suffers from mental health issues, became frustrated with Veterans Affairs over his health care coverage and was arrested last January.

Police recovered firearms, body armour, possible bomb-making materials, as well as blueprints of a Calgary skyscraper and his plan to attack.

As Judge Sean Dunnigan read out his decision, he often brought up the unique nature of the case, noting there aren’t many similar ones like it in Canada.

He also found Gieschen to be sincere in his remorse to Veterans Affairs and his family while acknowledging his need mental health treatment, as well as cooperating with police.

But Dunnigan also spoke of the serious and grave danger of the crime, even if it never happened.

The prosecution had been asking for four to six years, while the defence requested three and Gieschen’s lawyer Tonii Roulston spoke about the decision.

“It was very important to us that he be sentenced to a federal sentence so he can serve that time in a penitentiary due to his health issues, so we are pleased with the sentence because he has 28 months to serve, which is very close to what defence was asking for in the first place,” she said.

Michel Fay, a security officer with Veterans Affairs Canada gave a victim impact statement, saying he and his colleagues still struggle with the knowledge they were a bullet away from death and that they didn’t want vengeance, but justice.

“He wanted to resolve it from the time that we came on as counsel,” Roulston said. “He instructed us to resolve the matter not only for Veterans Affairs’ benefit, but also for the family, this has been a long road for Mr. Gieschen’s family and also for Mr. Gieschen and certainly for Veterans Affairs.”

Dunnigan also acknowledged the intervention of Mr. Gieschen’s wife in stopping the attack from proceeding, as well Gieschen not having a criminal record prior.