Air weapons found in unlocked cupboard at Lairg home

A Sutherland man got an expensive reminder that air weapons must be licensed and kept secure when he was fined a total of £865 for having his father's guns in an unlocked cupboard.

Father-of-four Marc Wishart, of Main Street, Lairg, appeared before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald and admitted three charges under the Firearms Act.

The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to having air weapons and ammunition without a certificate and failure to keep them secure.

The guns have now been destroyed.

The offences came to light when Highland Council officials went to inspect his local authority property on September 5, 2019.

They found the weapons propped up in a cupboard and insecure. Police were informed and Wishart was charged.

In an interview, he told officers: "I have had them since I was a kid. They were my father's. I used to play with them in the garden. They are just of sentimental value really.

"In hindsight, if I had known about the law and the legislation, I would have brought them to the police for destruction because I wouldn't want anyone else getting their hands on them. Even though they are air weapons, they are still dangerous."

Defence solicitor advocate Clare Russell said her client's statement to the police summed up his position but ignorance of the law was no defence.

"He signed a destruction note when he went to the police station. If he had applied for a licence, it was more than likely he would have got it."

Fining Wishart, Sheriff Macdonald told him: "There is a reason why air weapons are licensed and kept secure, because they are dangerous.

"But it is clear you now realise this. People can get jailed for offences like these but I am prepared to deal with this by way of moderate fines."