A MAN who was caught by police storing a collection of lethal firearms at his house has been jailed for five years. 

Jason Strachan, 37, was arrested after police raided his home in Kilwinning, on April 8 2017. 

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Tuesday how detectives received a tip off that Strachan possessed a number of illegal weapons.

They discovered that the crook had hidden a sawn off shotgun in his loft. The crook also had a so called "zip gun" which had a "typical home made appearance" and was capable of chambering and firing 12 bore shotgun cartridges.

Police Scotland officers also discovered two Chinese and two Spanish air rifles along with .50 Calibre cartridge which was loaded with a full metal jacket bullet. 

Strachan, of Ladyford Avenue, Kilwinning, pleaded guilty to firearms offences before judge Lord Beckett at the High Court in Glasgow last month. 

Sentence had been deferred in order for the court to obtain reports about Strachan's character. 

On Tuesday, Lord Beckett told Strachan that he had no other option but to send him to prison. 

He added: "There's no other sentence I can impose in these circumstances. The only disposal available to me is to impose a prison sentence."

At proceedings last month, prosecution lawyer Owen Mullan told the court that Strachan was detained by police after a 4am raid on April 9 2017.

He said: "As a result of information received by the police on April 8 2017, a warrant in terms of the Firearms Act was obtained in order to search the house occupied by the accused Jason Strachan.  

"At 4am on Sunday April 9 2017, police officers attended at the property and carried out a systematic search of the property."

Mr Mullan said officers found the weapons in the loft of Strachan's property. 

Speaking about the ammo find, Mr Mullan added: "This article consisted of an apparently live .50 Calibre cartridge manufactured by Industrie Valcartier Incorporee of Quebec, Canada. It was loaded with a full metal jacket bullet. 

"The cartridge is suitable for use with appropriately chambered rifles but is not suitable for use with any of the guns recovered."

On Tuesday, defence advocate Tony Lenehan said his client accepted he was going to be sent to prison. 

Mr Lenehan added: "He knows that he will leave this court as a long term prisoner."

Lord Beckett said the law with regards to firearms offences meant he had to impose a five year prison sentence on Strachan.