Scotland - Man took sawn-off shotgun to village pub after receiving death threats

OFF THE WIRE
news.stv.tv
A man has been jailed for five years after he went to a pub in a Fife village armed with a sawn-off shotgun.
Armed police were called to Ceres and officers later recovered the weapon and cartridges from the home of David Jackson.
Jackson claimed that he had received death threats and a number of his friends had been assaulted, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.
A judge told Jackson: "You know perfectly well this is a serious matter and you know you should not have had that weapon."
Lady Stacey pointed out that the 46-year-old's criminal record included a conviction for serious assault.
Jackson admitted breaching firearms legislation by possessing the prohibited weapon at the Ceres Inn, Ceres, Fife and at his home near the village on March 17 this year.
Advocate depute Murdoch Mactaggart said that customers at the pub had become aware that Jackson had the gun with him and he even showed it to one man.
He said: "The accused spoke to a male customer and told him that he was carrying a gun for his own protection as he was in a biker gang and had received threats."
When the man stepped outside for a cigarette Jackson revealed the gun to him before putting it back in his jacket and returning to the pub.
A woman in the bar had also spotted that he was carrying the weapon and 999 calls were made to police.
"Neither witness knew the accused but the police were subsequently able to identify him as David Jackson," said Mr Mactaggart.
Police units were drafted into the area and officers took up observation on his home while search warrants were sought.
A BMW car pulled up at the address and Jackson got into the vehicle and it was followed by armed officers as it drove into Ceres.
The car pulled up in the main street and police detained the driver and Jackson.Officers went to his home and found the Russian-made gun lying open on a bedroom floor with six live cartridges sitting on the bedside table.
DNA from Jackson was found on the weapon's trigger.
During an interview Jackson admitted possessing the gun and added: "I've had death threats."
Mr Mactaggart said: "He went on to say he had it for protection as threats had been made towards him, but he would not further expand on this."
Jackson's defence solicitor advocate Richard Souter said he took the threats seriously and was worried for his own safety and that of his partner.
"A number of his friends had been assaulted by males. The police had been involved in investigating these assaults," he said.
He said Jackson had moved to try to keep a low profile but the threats continued.
"After the threats continued it would appear that the worry of these threats over a long period of time has affected his frame of mind. Against that background he acquired the article in question," said Mr Souter.