Linwood man caught with a stun gun jailed

A man caught with a stun gun disguised as a ring has been jailed for six years.

48 year-old John-Paul Cameron was held after a raid at his flat in Linwood, Renfrewshire on February 2 2021.

Prosecutor Martin Crawford told the High Court in Glasgow: "He pointed to his bedroom and explained to the police that what they were looking for was in there.

"He said that if he had known that it would be classed as a firearm then he would not have had it."

Officers went on to seize a black plastic ring from a bedside table.

The item was found to be a working stun gun device.

The court heard police also discovered £310 of street Valium tablets - known as Etizolam - and more than £1,000 in cash.

This included being found hidden under a marble fireplace as well beneath a mattress.

The court was told Cameron, still of Linwood, had bought the stun gun online.

Mr Crawford: "It was a firearm disguised as a ring."

Cameron today/yesterday pled guilty to possession of the stun gun as well as being concerned in the supply of Etizolam.

It emerged he already had two high court convictions from the 1990s for robbery and serious assault.

Bob Mitchell, defending, said: "His offending is explained, but not excused by a long standing drug problem.

"The taser - which albeit carries a minimum (five year) sentence - is not an item that would cause fatal injury."

Lady Drummond sentenced him to five years and three months for the firearm charge and added another nine months for the drugs crime.

She said: "Given your record and the nature of the offences, custody is the only option."