Plumber who feared for life jailed for having handgun

Published on Monday 8 June 2009 20:52

A MAN who armed himself with a gun and ammunition during a feud with a "criminal" family has been jailed for five years and three months.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday that trouble flared after Steven Hewitt's brother had been involved in a road accident with a member of the family.

The conflict built up over several months, until a shotgun was fired three times through windows and the door at the brother's home.

Hewitt, 24, of Street, Sandyhills, Glasgow, acquired a Beretta handgun and 28 rounds of ammunition, but the police were tipped off and recovered them from a hiding place in a wheelie bin on 22 May last year.

A judge was told that Hewitt, a plumber, was a "decent young man" who had been in fear of his life and the lives of his family.

The unlawful possession of a firearm carries a minimum five-year jail term unless there are exceptional circumstances, and the judge, Lady Dorrian, ruled that there were none.

The defence counsel, Mark Moir, said a "well-known criminal family" had been involved in the feud. No-one had been injured in the shotgun incident, but it caused deep distress and worry.

"People were aware of what was happening and an offer was made to him to acquire a firearm," said Mr Moir.

"He foolishly acted on that offer. He accepts the courts will not allow persons to take the law into their own hands. The weapon was never used, but there is no telling what may have happened had the police not recovered it."

Lady Dorrian said she would have sentenced Hewitt to seven years but he was due a discount for pleading guilty.