Gun charge ‘not proven’ at Wick court

A Westerdale man has been cleared of a charge that he left a shotgun outside his gun cabinet at his home.

Patrick Sinclair (69) had denied the charge but it was found not proven after a trial at Wick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The offence was alleged to have occurred at his home at Laundry Cottage, Westerdale, on March 3, last year.

Sheriff Neil Wilson said the defence had raised a reasonable doubt as to whether the shotgun, produced in evidence by the Crown, was the same one that had been left unsecured outside the gun cabinet.

A plea of not guilty to an additional charge that Sinclair had left ammunition unsecured at his home was accepted by Fiscal Depute Grant McLennan.