A SENIOR Dundee sheriff yesterday renewed his call for politicians to review the legislation controlling the distribution of air weapons as he dealt with the case of a man who bought a gun in a Lochee pub.

Sheriff Richard Davidson hit out at laws that allow certain types of airguns to be bought over the counter in gun shops without a firearms certificate.

The sheriff voiced his criticism as he imposed a four-month prison sentence on William Robertson (28), Cleghorn Street.

Robertson previously admitted that he was in possession of an air rifle at his home and in Artillery Lane between December 12 and 28, last year, within five years of serving a prison sentence, in breach of firearms legislation.

The court heard that he had served the earlier sentence in Newcastle on a firearms-related crime.

The sheriff also ordered forfeiture of the air rifle at the heart of the latest offence.

Robertson told police that he had bought the gun “through a friend of a friend” for £200 in a pub in Lochee and intended to use it to hunt rabbits in Balmerino.

Defence agent Gary McIlravey said that Robertson had not been able to use the gun as it was missing its magazine and pump.

Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair told the court that the air rifle did not require a firearms certificate, but was a firearm under the terms of the relevant legislation.

Though Robertson could not lawfully have owned the gun until next January in any case, the sheriff expressed his extreme disquiet that such weapons are readily available to members of the public not subject to such a restriction.

“I have to say that, given the horrific offences that have occurred involving weapons of this type and that have attracted substantial publicity over the past three or four years, the fact that someone with problems, in particular in respect of drug addiction, could go in and buy something like that fills me with horror,” he said.

“I wonder, frankly, if our politicians understand properly what they are continuing to permit.

“It is quite clear that if this was presented to anyone in the street, in a public house or in a taxi, they would be horrified and frightened and would comply with any request from the person carrying it.”

He suggested that the simplest approach would be to ban the sale of all such guns unless the purchaser has a licence.

“It is a particular concern that this air rifle comes fitted with a silencer because it is difficult for me to attach anything other than a sinister connotation to that.

“I do urge politicians to look again at the situation that allows something like this to be out on the street.”

The sheriff added that he hoped the message would go out “loud and clear” that courts can do nothing but take the gravest view of anyone prepared to flout firearms regulations.