A man has been cleared of keeping a stun gun and illegal pepper spray in his garage after claims that neighbours stored “all sorts” there.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that police raided James Gardiner’s home in Greenfield Crescent, Wishaw, in June 2019.
They then searched his nearby lock-up where they found a canister of spray, a stun gun and battery cartridges that were classified as ammunition for the gun.
Gardiner, 36, faced charges under the Firearms Act, but the case collapsed after evidence suggested the items could have been placed in the garage by someone else.
Clare McDonald, 38, told the court that she and her partner - the accused - were living at the address at the time.
She was “shocked” when police told her what had been found in the lock-up.
Asked what was stored there, Ms McDonald replied: “All sorts. Car tyres, bits of cars, fishing things - just junk. Half the neighbours used it, people in flats who had no storage space or garage.
“It was handy for everyone and, having lived there since January 2016, I never knew the lock-up to be secured.”
Defence solicitor Stephen MacBride showed the witness a photograph of the garage with a brick at the door.
Ms McDonald told him: “That was to make sure the door didn’t blow open in the wind.”
Gardiner went on trial before a jury, but after evidence from Ms McDonald and another witness the Crown decided to proceed no further.
Sheriff Thomas Millar then told the accused he was acquitted of all charges and free to go.
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