A man caught with a petrol bomb that contained nails has been jailed for 16 months.
Police seized the device at Alexander Gibb’s home after reports that shots were being fired from a window.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the dad of one gave no good reason for being in possession of the petrol bomb and an air rifle.
Gibb, 23, from Larkhall, Lanarkshire, appeared from custody via videolink and admitted an offence under the Explosive Substances Act and having an air rifle without a certificate at his home in the town’s Nairn Street on July 31.
Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren said armed police were deployed after a caller said Gibb was firing shots.
She told the court: “The accused said there was no air rifle, but one was found wrapped in a length of carpet in a cupboard.
“The officers also recovered a glass bottle with a wick and nails inside. There was a strong smell of petrol from it and it resembled some sort of petrol bomb.”
Defence agent Jackson Bateman said the bomb was in a golf bag given to Gibb by a friend and he was unaware of it being there.
Sheriff Linda Nicolson told Gibb: “The danger to the public posed by the items you had is obvious.
“You gave no adequate explanation for your possession of them. Custody is the only option open to the court.
