Faslane naval base stun gun man dodges jail

A sub- contractor caught with a stun gun while working at Faslane has escaped a jail sentence.

Martyn Galloway from Tarbolton was told he faced up to five years in prison for his crime when he appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told him it was of“extreme grave concern” that he had been found with such a weapon at a nuclear base.

But he ruled that there were exceptional circumstances and handed him 200 hours of unpaid work in the community instead.

The court previously heard that the 36- year- old was caught with the weapon in the back of his van last year after buying it online.

He pleaded guilty to having the prohibited weapon on June 29 last year.

The court heard that the stun gun was discovered by Ministry of Defence police during a random search of his van.

Depute fiscal Sarah Healing told the court:“When the officers were searching the rear of the van they found a toolbox and inside they found a stun gun. He indicated that he bought it on the internet and that he had brought it on to the naval base with him.”

Galloway’s lawyer said:“He was unaware when he was stopped that the item was in his vehicle.

Sheriff Hendry said: “No- one should possess a stun gun in this country.

“The mere fact that such an item is found in such a place, even unintentionally, is of extreme grave concern.”