OAP faces jail over WWII revolver

A PENSIONER is facing jail after police found his father’s Second World War revolver in his attic. Ian Cargill, 71, claimed the Smith & Wesson was a war relic and inactive – but ballistics experts said it was still capable of being fired. At the High Court in Dunfermline, Cargill admitted illegally owning the revolver and a cache of hollow point bullets. The OAP, of Gauldry, in Fife, was an ‘experienced hobby shooter’ and held licences for a variety of firearms, the court was told. Advocate depute Richard Goddard said police arrived at Cargill’s home on September 11, 2015. He added: ‘As a result of information received, officers obtained a search warrant for the accused’s home. During a search of the attic, police officers recovered a Smith & Wesson revolver.’

The gun had originally belonged to Cargill’s father, who had served with the RAF during the Second World War.

Cargill attended Police Scotland’s Bell Street headquarters in Dundee and was charged.

Ballistics experts analysed the gun and found that it was in a ‘poor state of repair’ – but that it was possible for it to fire a bullet. A motion for the forfeiture of the revolver was granted by the court.

Cargill admitted the offences when he appeared in court earlier this week. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on November 28.