CAUGHT WITH 8 GUNS AFTER POLICE SWOOP
Tip-off led to dramatic arrest on busy street
A MAN was caught with eight guns after armed police swooped on him in the street.
Paul Duncan was held after his Mazda 6 car was stopped in Glasgow city centre on August 21.
Officers found a self-loading pistol hidden in a sock in the vehicle as well as “homemade” ammunition during the search in the city’s Sauchiehall Street.
Police went on to search the home the 55-year-old first offender shared with his wife in Erskine, Renfrewshire.
Prosecutor Angela Gray told the High Court in Glasgow a black suitcase was found in a lock-up garage at the house.
It contained six more converted pistols, a revolver and several further packages of ammunition.
Miss Gray said: “He was interviewed but declined to answers questions put to him.”
The hearing was told the guns had originally been designed to fire blank cartridges but had been converted.
The advocate depute added: “The pistols and one revolver were tested and it was confirmed they had enough energy to be considered lethal barrelled weapons.”
Duncan yesterday pled guilty to nine firearms charges – including possession of the guns and ammunition.
John Scullion QC, defending, said Duncan had got involved after falling on “hard times”.
Lord Armstrong remanded him in custody pending sentencing next month.
Detective Inspector Martin McGhee, of Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, said: “As part of an intel ligence- led operation, officers stopped and searched a vehicle on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, on August 21, where a firearm and ammunition were recovered.
“A property on Douglas Crescent, Erskine, was also searched on August 22, where a further seven firearms and ammunition were recovered. Duncan was arrested and charged and later pled guilty to possessing the illegal weapons.
“There is absolutely no place for illegal firearms in our communities and we’ll do everything we can to remove them and bring those responsible for such criminality before the courts.
“I’d urge anyone with information about the criminal use of firearms to contact Police Scotland on 101. Your information can be vital in helping us protect communities.”