Give me back my harmless gun collection

Stuart claims police are defying order to release veterans' charity's arsenal

- BY SALLY HIND

AN EX-ROYAL Marine, convicted of having illegal firearms after a raid on his home, is demanding officers return his arsenal of guns.

Stuart Lavery, a 72-year-old veterans' charity chief, was convicted in 2024 for possession of two air pistols he believed were toys.

Part of his large gun collection was seized, including a deactivated sub-machine gun and a Kalashnikov rifle, as police swooped in Arbroath.

But the veteran, who served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, said the haul is not capable of firing bullets and should be returned.

He claimed prosecutors instructed the release of his property weeks after his case was concluded but he is still waiting.