A man who tried to acquire a deadly gun and bullets after claiming he ran up a drug debt on the dark web was jailed for 37 months today.
A judge told Robin Baxter that but for the timely intervention of the authorities, an illegal firearm and bullets could have been passed on to criminals.
Lord Richardson said such weapons were used to kill, maim and terrorise and Baxter was “at the very least shamefully reckless” as to how it was going to be used.
The judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh that because of the gravity of the offences and the need for deterrence, only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
He said he would have sentenced Baxter to 50 months imprisonment if he was convicted after trial but the penalty would be reduced following his guilty pleas.
Lord Richardson said: “I recognise you have suffered with a number of health conditions, both physical and mental.”
First offender Baxter, 50, earlier admitted attempting to acquire and possess an illegal firearm and ammunition on June 29 and 30 last year at his address in Pentland Crescent, Aberdeen.
Gun and ammo discovered in Louisiana
A Glock pistol and 200 rounds of ammunition was destined for delivery to his home before American homeland security agents discovered the weapon.
They inspected a package at Denham Springs, in Louisiana, and found the weapon with a laser sight, bullets and a silencer inside a Bluetooth jukebox package.
UK authorities were alerted and a dummy parcel was prepared, delivered and accepted by Baxter at his home. Police later detained him at Crimond, in Aberdeenshire.
Prosecutor Alan Mackay said that during an interview Baxter admitted that he had been buying cannabis through the dark web internet using cryptocurrency.
He exchanged messages with his source through an encrypted email service.
Accused acknowledges the seriousness of the charges
The advocate depute said: “He had agreed to take in the parcel as a favour to the individual who had sold him the cannabis.
“He was in debt to this person for £2,500 and had agreed to accept the parcel on this person’s behalf.”
He was told a Glock had been ordered for delivery and carried out an internet search and realised it was a firearm.
“He had been told to keep the parcel and that arrangements would be made to collect it,” said the prosecutor.
Defence counsel Craig Findlater said a background report prepared on Baxter showed that he acknowledged the seriousness of the charges he faced.
