Man stored gun to cancel £5k debt

A man who agreed to store a gun to cancel out a £5,000 debt has been jailed for five years.

Scott Lawlor, 38, was arrested after the five-shot revolver was found hidden in the ground at the rear of a unit in Beith, Ayrshire in May 2020.

The American-made weapon was said to be in “poor condition”, but still capable of firing.

Police also seized ammunition during the search.

Lawlor, of Erskine, Renfrewshire, yesterday admitted to three firearms charges including possession of the revolver.

The High Court in Glasgow heard DNA helped linked him to the weapon.

His lawyer told how Lawlor had been working as a mechanic when he was approached by an individual to “look after” the gun, which would repay the debt he owed.

Callum Hiller, defending, said he had no intention of committing any other offences with the revolver.

Judge Lord Renucci remarked: “That would be in relation to Mr Lawlor, but he would have no idea what was planned with the weapon.”

Mr Hiller confirmed during the hearing the sum said to have been owed by Lawlor.

Lawlor faced the mandatory five-year sentence for the gun charge.

Lord Renucci told him he was “no stranger to the courts or the prison system”.

The judge imposed concurrent 10 month and five-month sentences for the other two firearms charges.