Glasgow man jailed for five years after police found antique gun in his home
32-year-old John McFarlane kept the silver revolver in his bedroom table
Last updated 21st Sep 2018
A man caught red-handed with an antique revolver in his home after a tip-off to police was yesterday jailed for five years.
Unemployed John McFarlane, 32, from Glasgow, admitted having the US-made Forehand and Wadsworth 'Swamp Angel” silver revolver in his home on April 23 and 24, this year.
Firearms officer went to McFarlane's home on April 24 with a search warrant and he told them: “I know why yous are here. It's for the gun. There's a revolver in there with two bullets, but it's an antique.”
Prosecutor Margaret Barron said: “The property was searched and a silver revolver and two brass rounds were seized from a bedroom table by police officers.”
The High Court in Glasgow heard that McFarlane admitted the gun was his. He said he had been given it a few days earlier, but claimed he could not name the person who gave it to him.
McFarlane's DNA was found on the trigger, the grip and cylinder rod of the weapon.
Scientists who examined the bullets found that the cartridges did not contain any propellant powder and said there would be insufficient energy to propel the bullet from the barrel.
Judge Lord Matthews told McFarlane the only appropriate sentence was a prison term.
McFarlane has previous convictions for assault to danger of life, dishonesty, drugs and road traffic offences.