Special agent intervened after engineer bought gun from USA

Five-year minimum prison sentence looms for Scot caught ordering firearm, silencer and ammunition

A software engineer who bought a gun and silencer online is facing a five-year minimum jail sentence after taking delivery of a fake parcel.

David Mitchell purchased the firearm and 150 rounds of ammunition but ended up signing for a package mocked up to look like the original after US Homeland Security intervened.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that a Homeland Security special agent intercepted the original parcel at Newark airport in the USA on September 17. It was addressed to Pitreavie Court, in Dunfermline, Fife.

It was found to contain an amplifier but hidden inside the item was a fully operational Glock handgun, a sound suppressor and bullets.

Advocate depute Liam Ewing said that following the find a joint operation was set up between Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency to create a package containing metal and wood to mock up the original.

Mitchell was put under surveillance and a cardboard box containing the placebo was delivered to his workplace in Dunfermline.

Mr Ewing said: “The accused was seen signing for and taking delivery of the package. Later that day the accused was observed exiting the premises and placing the box in his car before driving home.”

Firearms officers later turned up at Mitchell’s home in Damside, Edinburgh. He told them: “There is something under the chair in the living room and something in the recycling bin in the kitchen.”

The mocked-up package was discovered under the chair and the amplifier and packaging were in a recycling box.

Mitchell, 48, was told that a search would be carried out at his workplace but he said: “There’s nothing there, anyway.”

The prosecutor said that Mitchell “appeared distant” and was staring into space.

“He said that he suffered from depression and took medication for the condition.”

Mr Ewing said officers were concerned about Mitchell’s mental health and arranged a medical examination. A psychiatrist confirmed that he was fit to be interviewed.

The pistol, silencer and bullets found at Newark airport, in New Jersey, were sent to Scotland to be examined by ballistics experts.

The gun was found to be in working order but the silencer was not suitable for use with the Glock.

Mr Ewing said he had removed details of how the purchase was made from the narration for the court.

Mitchell, a prisoner in Perth, admitted purchasing and attempting to possess the pistol, silencer and ammunition between September 17 and 19 this year and attempting to possess a prohibited firearm.

The judge, Lord Pentland, deferred sentence on Mitchell until next month for the preparation of a background report.

Mitchell was remanded in custody.

Defence solicitor advocate Ewen Roy said a psychiatric assessment of Mitchell has been instructed.

The accused was seen signing for and taking delivery of the package ADVOCATE DEPUTE LIAM EWING