Fine for firearms offence at Caithness farm

A Caithness farmer who failed to keep his firearms in a secure place more than six years ago has been fined £360.

Graham Sutherland (34) pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Police who made a check call at the accused's home at The Antlers, Occumster, on July 28, 2015, discovered that the two guns were not stored in a secure cabinet but in an outbuilding. Sutherland told officers he had used the weapons the previous night but had not got round to transferring them.

Solicitor Graham Mann told the court that Sutherland had held a firearms certificate for 10 years without incident and was, in any case, considering surrendering it.

Sheriff Andrew Berry made no order for forfeiture of the guns.