Men jailed after being caught transporting handguns in Ayrshire
Police witnessed an exchange between Mark Kirkby and Ku Wing Kwok at Ardeer Golf Club in Stevenston last September
Two men caught transporting guns in Stevenston have been jailed for five years each.
Mark Kirkby and Ku Wing Kwok admitted possessing illegal firearms and ammunition without a license during a Glasgow High Court appearance last month.
On Thursday they were both sentenced to five years behind bars.
Police received a tip-off that Kirkby, 38, would be involved in the transfer of firearms in the car park of Ardeer Golf Club on 1 September 2020.
Officers launched a surveillance operation and watched as Kwok, 42, arrived in a car at 4.24pm. Half an hour later, at 4.58pm, another car, with Kirkby in the front passenger seat, arrived and parked right next to Kwok’s vehicle.
Kirkby opened the boot of Kwok’s car and emptied the contents of a drawstring bag. Both cars then left in different directions.
Kwok was pulled over as he headed towards Greenock on the A78.
When officers searched the car, they found five replica pistols which had been modified to shoot live ammunition. There were also two boxes of 9mm bullets.
Later that evening, Kirkby’s home in Stevenson was searched where six mobile phones and £2970 in cash was found.
Procurator fiscal for major crime, David Green, said:
“The possession of illegal and potentially deadly firearms is extremely dangerous and poses real harm to the community.
“Removing these guns from the streets goes some way towards removing that harm.
“Police and prosecutors will continue to work together to do everything in our power to keep firearms off the streets.”