Cops discovered CS gas cannister in kitchen drawer during warrant search of Lanarkshire man's flat

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A drug dealer caught with a canister of CS spray has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.A sheriff said he “wasn’t impressed” by John Duff’s claim that he was given the illegal spray by a pal while on holiday.Duff, 31, admitted breaching the Firearms Act by possessing the prohibited weapon at his flat in Freesia Court, Motherwell, on March 9 last year.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Sheriff John Hamilton told him: “You had a CS gas canister and were dealing drugs in the house.

It looks bad and I would be entitled to impose a jail sentence.”Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that the drugs offences had been prosecuted separately.

Duff pled guilty last November and was placed under social work supervision.The sheriff in that case also imposed an electronic tagging order.Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said police officers armed with a drugs search warrant found the canister of irritant spray in a kitchen drawer.At that time Duff gave no explanation for possessing the spray, but he later claimed he’d been given it by a pal, put it in the drawer and forgotten about it.His lawyer said CS gas is “readily available” on the internet.Defence agent Eddie Robertson added: “He is aware it’s a stark choice between prison and a non-custodial sentence, and would be prepared to accept unpaid work.”Sheriff Hamilton