A Dundee man is facing three years in jail after being caught with a stash of offensive weapons at Edinburgh Airport.
Kevin McKell, of Greenbank Place, was found to have three CS gas canisters, seven knives and 10 knuckle-dusters upon returning from a trip to Bavaria.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the 31-year-old’s luggage caused alarm bells to ring as it passed through the X-ray machine on June 1 last year.
McKell was asked by security staff what was in the suitcase and admitted to having a knuckle-duster and a knife, however closer examination of the luggage revealed a great deal more.
McKell pled guilty to being in possession of the weapons without reasonable excuse or lawful authority at Edinburgh International Airport.
Fiscal Depute, Melanie Ward, told Sheriff Norman McFadyen that McKell told airport staff he was bringing the items back for friends.
Defence solicitor, Gordon Parker-Smith, said: “There is not much I can say about the offence itself.”
He added: “These items are readily available in Bavaria and he thought it would be a good idea to purchase these items.”
His client, he said, had previous convictions, but they dated back three or four years.
Sheriff McFadyen told McKell that given his record, and the startling nature of the weapons, only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
His starting point, he said, was four years, but due to the plea of guilty, he reduced that to three years.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “The security and safety of our passengers is paramount to everything we do at Edinburgh Airport.
“We encourage all passengers to be informed well in advance of coming to the airport on the laws of what is and what is not permitted to pass through security.”
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