Man jailed over police stand-off with home-made gun

At the High Court in Glasgow, Smith’s lawyer, Richard Goddard KC, said he had an interest in field sports such as shooting and fishing.

Mr Goddard heard from family members who had said Smith had “an aptitude for technical matters and engineering”.

Smith told him the instructions for building the submachine gun were available online, as were components and tools.

Mr Goddard said there was “no suggestion” they were connected with any other serious criminality.

Smith apologised for breaching bail and claimed he had not wanted to leave his mum “alone”.

Sentencing, Lord Fairley noted Smith had 31 previous convictions, but most were at Sheriff Court level.

He said: “I have noted that the firearm that you manufactured was not capable of functioning as a semi-automatic or automatic weapon.

“I have also noted the extraordinary circumstances in which you have come to manufacture it and retain those other items.

“All of which on one view is concerning, but, the one crumb of comfort, is that they never seem to have left the property that you shared with your mother.”