Man jailed after being found with 'modified' gun

Steven McGarry was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow

A man previously involved in a drive-by shooting has been jailed after being found with a gun and bullets hidden in a cupboard at his home.

Police found Steven McGarry’s DNA on the modified Slovakian-made Grand Power pistol during a search of his home in Paisley in January.

The 37-year-old was sentenced to 44 months in prison for his role as the getaway driver in a shooting in Stepps, North Lanarkshire in 2021.

He was jailed for six years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow having admitted a string of firearms charges in August.

McGarry initially claimed he lived in Govan when police pulled over the Audi Q5 he was driving in Govan's Edmiston Drive on 17 January.

However, it emerged he lived in Paisley and had the keys to the property on him.

'Desperate for money'

Officers searching his home found the weapon hidden inside a sports bag along with 15 rounds of ammunition.

The pistol was initially designed to fire “blanks” such as flares, but had been converted to discharge 9mm rounds.

Forensic checks revealed McGarry’s DNA on several parts of the weapon.

Prosecutor Chris McKenna said the gun was “in working order” in both full and semi-automatic firing modes.

In a pre-sentencing report, McGarry admitted he had borrowed money in order to start his own business after leaving prison, but the money had been confiscated.

His lawyer, Tony Lenehan KC, said he had taken "a step backwards rather than forwards" by taking possession of the gun for cash.

Sentencing, Lady Hood said he had been “desperate” for money.

McGarry admitted six charges under the Firearms Act, including possessing the pistol and bullets.