Man caught firing gun near busy road in Galashiels is jailed
Last updated 31st Oct 2023
A 33-year-old man who fired a pistol-style ball-bearing gun near a busy road in Galashiels has today been jailed for 12 months.
Niall Gray previously pled guilty to possession of the imitation firearm and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in the town's Melrose Road, on March 12th this year.
Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard a passing taxi driver spotted him pointing the handgun towards a woodland and firing three times, and alerted police.
Firearms officers were deployed and caught up with Gray in Galashiels town centre around 4.30pm that afternoon.
As well as the pistol, he was also found in possession of a magazine containing pellets.
While accepting his behaviour was reckless, Gray's solicitor, Ross Dow, said his client had no intention to cause any harm.
But Sheriff Kevin McCarron noted his "horrendous" criminal record and said there was no alternative to custody.
The sentence was backdated to October 2nd when Gray was first remanded in connection with the case.
READ MORE: Man, 23, dies following two car crash on A7
Meanwhile, a 37-year-old man who reported his car stolen after crashing into another vehicle on a B-road near Hawick has been given a four-month home curfew and disqualified from driving for 15 months.
Sean Owens, who gave an address in the town's McLagan Drive, admitted charges of dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice at Selkirk Sheriff Court - as well as driving without insurance - following the collision on August the 13th last year.
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