Man caught hiding foreign guns and ammunition in storage unit at Dumbarton marina

A man who hid a stash of foreign guns and ammunition at a marina has been jailed for seven years and six months.

Robert Weir was caught hoarding a shortened, loaded Russian-made shotgun and a Japanese shotgun, which was also loaded, and two handguns with ammunition.

The 56-year-old stored the weapons at a storage unit at the Sandpoint Marina in Dumbarton.

Weir’s crimes began to unravel when a police search of his home revealed 1.7kg of cannabis with a street value of £17,202 in four vacuum-sealed bags, digital scales and two swords.

Later the same day, firearms officers searched the metal shipping container, which was being rented by Weir and recovered the haul of weapons.

Forensic analysis of the Russian shotgun showed it was designed to discharge 16-bore shotgun cartridges and was in working order.

Robert Weir hid the guns in a storage unit in Dumbarton COPFS

The Japanese shotgun was constructed to discharge 12-bore cartridges and was constituted as a firearm.

There were six modified blank cartridges in the handgun, which was in working order and constituted a prohibited weapon, subject to a Firearm Certificate and the written authority of the secretary of state or a Scottish minister.

The accused’s DNA was found on the holdall and a number of the weapons.

Weir, of Dumbarton, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting multiple firearms offences.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at his home.

The charges were aggravated by the accused having committed the crimes while on bail.

Guns and ammunition were recovered COPFS

Prosecutor Sineidin Corrins, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was an important recovery of weapons that had the potential to cause significant harm.

“These weapons have now been taken out of commission, and Robert Weir will spend a lengthy time in prison as a consequence of his crimes.

“This case underlines our commitment to continue working with the police and other agencies to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.”