Police found ammunition for a rifle during search of Larkhall house

A man told them "My stuff, my room, my responsibility.”

Ammunition for a rifle was found during a search of a house in Larkhall.

The discovery led to Brandon Watson being jailed for eight months at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.

Watson, 23, admitted unlawful possession of 38 rifle shells at his parents’ home in Glen Avenue in September 2018.

Michael Macintosh, prosecuting, said police officers got a search warrant for the house. They found the .22 calibre shells in a cabinet in Watson’s bedroom.

He told them: “My stuff, my room, my responsibility.”

Ian Scott, defending, said Watson’s position was that the ammunition was “left over from years ago when he was shooting rabbits on farms”.

The solicitor added: “Nothing else incriminating was found during the search of the house and no other prosecution has followed.

“He has accepted responsibility from the outset.”

Sheriff Thomas Millar told Watson: “This is a serious matter which has to be recognised by the imposition of a custodial sentence.

“It would have been 12 months, but I’ll restrict it to eight months having regard to your guilty plea.”

Watson is already serving a 15-month sentence imposed in November for trying to rob a shop assistant at knifepoint and stealing an old woman’s purse.

He produced a knife and demanded money at Ashbridge Antiques in Union Street, Larkhall, in February last year.

After fleeing empty-handed, Watson snatched a purse containing cash and cards from St Machan’s Parish Church in nearby Church Street.