Teenager who built gun in his home with 3D printer avoids jail

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that two of the charges carried a minimum term of three years detention unless a judge held that exceptional circumstances existed in the case.

Judge Lady Hood said that she believed this was the case, and told Maris she took into account the circumstances of the offending, his own circumstances and a risk assessment prepared on him.

Advocate depute Liam Ewing KC, prosecuting, previously told the court that the teenager told police he was “fascinated with firearms” and had been building a gun that was in a white box in his bedroom.

Mr Ewing said: “He stated this was his and had nothing to do with his parents, and that he only built this for a hobby and had no intention of using it to hurt anybody.”

The court heard that Maris, a first offender, was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and suffered from anxiety.

Mr Ewing said 3D printed firearms are primarily made from 3D printed plastic components, with some metal parts such as barrels, firing pins and springs.

During a search of a bedroom cupboard police found the printed parts for the gun in a box. They also found replica weapons and ammunition.