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A man previously involved in a drive-by shooting has been jailed after being found with a gun and bullets hidden in a cupboard at his home.<\/p>\n
Police found Steven McGarry\u2019s DNA on the modified Slovakian-made Grand Power pistol during a search of his home in Paisley in January.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old was sentenced to 44 months in prison for his role as the getaway driver in a shooting in Stepps, North Lanarkshire in 2021.<\/p>\n
He was jailed for six years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow having admitted a string of firearms charges in August.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
McGarry initially claimed he lived in Govan when police pulled over the Audi Q5 he was driving in Govan’s Edmiston Drive on 17 January.<\/p>\n
However, it emerged he lived in Paisley and had the keys to the property on him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Officers searching his home found the weapon hidden inside a sports bag along with 15 rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n
The pistol was initially designed to fire \u201cblanks\u201d such as flares, but had been converted to discharge 9mm rounds.<\/p>\n
Forensic checks revealed McGarry\u2019s DNA on several parts of the weapon.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Chris McKenna said the gun was \u201cin working order\u201d in both full and semi-automatic firing modes.<\/p>\n
In a pre-sentencing report, McGarry admitted he had borrowed money in order to start his own business after leaving prison, but the money had been confiscated.<\/p>\n
His lawyer, Tony Lenehan KC, said he had taken “a step backwards rather than forwards” by taking possession of the gun for cash.<\/p>\n
Sentencing, Lady Hood said he had been \u201cdesperate\u201d for money.<\/p>\n
McGarry admitted six charges under the Firearms Act, including possessing the pistol and bullets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n