Man who stored homemade guns for friend is jailed

Image source, COPFS

Image caption, Weapons and ammunition were found stored in a hallway cupboard and TV cabinet

A Glasgow man who stored homemade guns and ammunition for a friend has been jailed for five years.

Salvatore Lupi, 38, hid nine homemade bore "zip guns" inside a cupboard and TV unit at his home in Benview Street, Maryhill.

Lupi told police he was storing the weapons for friend Graham Henderson, who was struggling with drink and drug issues and living in hostels around Glasgow.

Lupi, who admitted the firearms charge, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Officers had been told that he was storing the items for a man 鈥渒nown to be involved in serious and organised crime鈥, but no direct links between Lupi and the man were found.

Police stopped Lupi in the street, where he admitted possession of firearms and ammunition. before the search of his home was carried out.

When a search of Lupi's home was carried out, weapons and ammunition were found in a hallway cupboard and drawers of a TV unit.

Eight metal poles in polythene bags were discovered by officers. When tested they were able to successfully fire a 12-bore primed shotgun cartridge.

Image source, COPFS

Image caption, Metal poles and bullet cartridges were found in Lupi's home

Defence advocate Allan Macleod said Mr Henderson had been in "a downward spiral".

He said Lupi took the view it would be "better for everyone if he took possession of the weapons".

He added: "He recognises now that he held onto them for too long and that he should have contacted the police.

鈥淗e now recognises that he will have to live with the consequences of his actions.鈥

No trace of Lupi's DNA or fingerprints were found on the weapons.

When Lupi was arrested, police told him that Mr Henderson had taken his own life.

Presiding sentencing, Lord Colbeck said a minimum sentence of five years was required by firearms legislation.

鈥淚 am not convinced there are exceptional circumstances that allow me not to impose such a sentence," he told Lupi.

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 鈥淭his was an important recovery of weapons and ammunition that had the potential to cause significant harm on our streets."