A woman was hauled into the dock today after police found her dead lover's stun gun at her home.

Bernadette Kearney had the firearm at the flat in Glasgow's Parkhead on July 13, 2017.

The 49-year-old was unaware of the weapon which was hidden among rubbish inside a bag in her living room.

READ MORE: Police searching for man after sexual assault in bar

The matter went cold for years while Kearney's partner was the suspect.

But, Kearney pleaded guilty to possession of the weapon without authority of the Secretary of State or Scottish ministers.

The court heard officers raided the property described as being a "hovel" and recovered stun gun after 25 minutes.

The weapon - which had a lightening bolt on its side - was seized and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

A tenants agreement baring Kearney's name was also found at the flat.

Prosecutor Hazel Kerr said: "Information was obtained confirming the weapon to be an unbranded electric stun gun capable of emitting high pulses and temporary incapacity."

Kearney was arrested for a separate matter in May 2019 and the stun gun case was found to be live.

She told officers that she lived at the flat for 17 years and had "no knowledge of the stun gun at the property."

Miss Kerr added: "She stated her former partner who is now deceased lived there."

Jamie McNair, defending, told the court that she attempted to contact the reporting officer for the case but was unable to as he was not present at the police station.

The lawyer said: "Two years passed and this was flagged up on the system when she was interviewed [for the other matter].

"From the disclosure it's quite clear she was not a person of interest and it was her partner which explains the inaction.

"She had no idea of the content of the bag - the flat was described as a hovel.

"Because of case law, it is as long as the person has knowledge of the bag in the property."

Kearney was initially put under supervision for two years for the offence in January this year but breached the court order.

READ MORE: Killer driver who knocked down OAP wins bid to get licence back

Sheriff David Taylor put Kearney under supervision for two years again at today's hearing.

He said: "This is an unusual case and it seems to be that you were convicted of a serious crime under the firearms act.

"It seems the sheriff who applied the original sentence agreed you had no knowledge.

"I am giving you a chance and if you do not take that chance, a custodial sentence is at the forefront of my mind."