A man found hiding in a cupboard with a handgun has been locked up.
Bartosz Pawlowski, 31, a prisoner at Perth, admitted possessing the weapon at an address on Dundonald Street on April 17.
Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard that the gun, capable of firing flares and cartridges, was not in working order.
But according to firearms experts, the weapon could be fired if it was struck with a hard object.
Pawlowski was among four men facing charges of breaking into the city’s Technology Park and elsewhere in February.
However, his plea of not guilty to those charges was accepted by prosecutors.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie previously told the court that Pawlowski was hiding in a bedroom cupboard when police visited his home for another matter.
He said the handgun, half concealed under a carpet, was a replica.
Defending Pawlowski, Ross Donnelly said: “There were no exceptional circumstances for him to require the weapon. However, he acquired this item due to an interest in it and was not intending on using it as a weapon.”
Co-accused, 22-year-old Dorian Czekaj, of Bonnethill Court, admitted breaking into Positive Steps at Swan House between February 24 and 26 and stealing mobile phones, a virtual reality headset, a camera, cable and data card, four hard drives, a projector and concert tickets.
He also admitted breaking into the business premises occupied by Solas at the same address on February 27 and 28 and stealing a laptop and cash box.
Piotr Niemczyk, 32, of Morgan Street, admitted that he broke into premises occupied by Alexander Annan at Swan House and stole two paint brushes and a drill between February 26 and 28 and that he broke into the Elim Church at the same address and stole two guitars and a light assembly between February 1 and March 26.
Grzegorz Gasiorowski, 26, a prisoner at Perth, admitted that between February 26 and March 10, at Cash Converters, Whitehall Crescent, he reset a mixer stolen by housebreaking.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael sentenced Pawlowski to 12 months in prison.
Gasiorowski was ordered to perform 140 hours of unpaid work with one year’s supervision while Czekaj must perform 150 hours with one year of supervision.
Niemczyk’s case was continued.
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