A man caught with a gun who claimed he was travelling five-and-a-half hours to meet a woman avoided jail today.

Marius Morkunas, 33, kept the imitation revolver in a compartment under the front passenger seat of his car.

Co-accused Vidmantas Gvazdauskas, 26, was in the driver's seat when officers swooped in on March 23, 2022.

The pair stated that they had travelled from Northampton to Glasgow to visit the city and meet a woman that Morkunas had a "romantic" interest in.

Gvazdauskas further claimed that they had planned to go to a place where there was a hot tub.

Officers also recovered a knife from Morkunas who later assaulted police constable Shona McGillivary by kicking her on the body.

Morkunas was found guilty by a jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court for having the gun without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

He also pleaded guilty to having a knife and the assault on the police officer.

Sheriff Thomas Millar imposed 250 hours of unpaid work and put Morkunas under supervision for 18 months.

Gvazdauskas, in the meantime, pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamines and was fined £180. He was found not proven to the firearm charge.

The court heard that Gvazdauskas was in the driver's seat when police stopped the vehicle in the city's Dennistoun before 6pm.

It was stated that he was "visibly nervous" and his hand was "shaking."

Gvazdauskas told officers that Morkunas - who was in the front passenger seat - was the owner of the vehicle.

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Prosecutor Redmond Harris told jurors in his closing speech: "The firearm was found underneath the front passenger seat in a compartment.

"All the person sitting on the seat needed to do was reach underneath to operate the compartment."

Morkunas told jurors in his evidence that he travelled the five-and-a-half hour journey from Northampton to Glasgow for a single day to meet someone he used to work with.

Mr Harris stated: "He claimed he wanted to park the car to sleep.

"He said he had a romantic interest in this woman and drove from Northampton to Glasgow with Gvazdauskas."

Morkunas further claimed that he had rented the vehicle out to others on Gumtree on five occasions to make cash.

He stated that he did not see the firearm until the trial had commenced.

Gvazdauskas backed up Morkunas stating that they travelled to meet a woman.

Mr Harris added: "He didn't say what he wanted to see or where the place with the hot tub was."

Gvazdauskas told officers when held: "I wasn't driving, I was in the driver's seat with the engine on setting up navigation."

The gun was tested and found to be an Italian-manufactured ME Jaguar five-shot double/single action blank firing revolver.

The loaded gun was stated to be in a "fair external condition and in working order."