Community service for man caught at airport with two stun guns and nine pepper sprays

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Mark Noble, 25, was travelling back to Edinburgh from Thailand via Amsterdam when he was stopped for having excess luggage.

A search was carried out and the weapons were discovered.

The court was told Noble had three previous convictions relating to weapons and had been ordered to carry out community service.

Noble, of West Pilton Terrace, Edinburgh, admitted having the two stun guns and nine pepper sprays in his possession on 14 June last year at Edinburgh Airport.

The Crown accepted a not guilty plea to a charge which alleged Noble had been in possession of five knuckledusters and a telescopic truncheon.

Defence agent Graeme Clark said: "It was a stupid thing to do while he was on a boy's holiday in Thailand.

"He had money left over and these items were cheap and on display in a market and he decided to buy them and take them home."

Mr Clark added Noble's last conviction was in 2006 which was around the time he had secured a job which he still has.

Sheriff Deidre MacNeill QC told Noble: "You realise now I hope that you have committed serious offences under the firearms act and I had to consider a prison sentence."

But the sheriff said considering his favourable circumstances she could impose an alternative to custody.