A RENFREWSHIRE man who was caught with eight guns after armed police swooped on him in a busy street has been jailed for five years.

Paul Duncan, 55, was detained following an operation that led to him being stopped as he drove his Mazda 6 car on August 21 last year.

Officers found a self-loading pistol hidden in a sock in the vehicle during the search in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street.

They also recovered a quantity of "home-made" ammunition.

Police went on to search the home Duncan shared with his wife in Erskine.

Prosecutor Angela Gray told the High Court in Glasgow how a black suitcase was found in a lock-up garage there.

It contained six more converted pistols, a revolver and several packets of ammunition.

Miss Gray said: "He was interviewed but declined to answers questions put to him."

The hearing was told the guns had originally been designed to fire blank cartridges but had been converted.

Miss Gray continued: "The pistols...and one revolver...were tested and it was confirmed they had enough energy to be considered lethal barrelled weapons."

First offender Duncan admitted nine firearms charges, including possession of the guns and ammunition, at a hearing last month.

He was sentenced this morning, with Lord Armstrong telling him the jail term would have been seven-and-a-half years but for his guilty plea.

The judge added: "I accept that your role was, in context, a limited one but you now stand convicted of serious offences."

Lord Armstrong also said the weapons that were seized could have presented "a grave danger to members of the public."

The court was told Duncan had got involved with the firearms after falling on "hard times."

John Scullion QC, defending, said: "He continues to enjoy the support of relatives.

"They are shocked by his current situation. These offences can properly be described as out of character."