A man who was charged after Police Scotland recovered a handgun in East Lothian last year has been convicted.
As part of inquiries into shootings, which happened in the South of Edinburgh on September 2014, detectives from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit and Edinburgh CID carried out a search of an address in Baxter’s Neuk, Tranent on 13th February 2015.
Evidence was taken from the property, which led police to a farm in Haddington that was then subject to search activity where a Smith and Wesson revolver was found buried on the site.
Lee Hunter (30), who was on remand for an attempted murder that occurred in Wester Hailes, was interviewed in connection with this recovery and subsequently reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
He pled guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence at Paisley High Court on Tuesday 8th March and will be sentenced on 18th April.
Hunter will also be sentenced in connection with the Wester Hailes attempted murder on Wednesday 16th March.
Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray from the OCCTU (East) said:
The recovery of this firearm was an excellent example of the partnership work carried out by OCCTU detectives, Edinburgh CID, specialist search officers and local officers within East Lothian to tackle serious and organised crime and bring those responsible to justice.
While our inquiries so far do not link this gun to any reported offences, it demonstrates Hunter’s involvement in criminal activity and his guilty plea is testament to the overwhelming evidence gathered against him by Police Scotland.
We are committed to tackling organised crime in all its forms and work closely with our colleagues at the Crown Office to remove offenders from our communities.
Anyone wishing to report ongoing crime in their area can do so by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
