Advocate General Richard Keen fined £1,000 over firearms offence

The Advocate General, Richard Keen QC, has been fined £1,000 after admitting a firearms offence.

Lord Keen, 62, pleaded guilty by letter yesterday to breaching s.2 of the Firearms Act 1968 after failing to secure his shotgun.

Sheriff Frank Crowe said: “I do take into account Mr Keen’s previous good record and the fact that he admitted his guilt at the outset.

“Nevertheless, to hold a firearms certificate is a privilege and there are very strict conditions which have to be adhered to to prevent such weapons falling into the wrong hands.

“There was a potential risk with the shotgun not in the secure cabinet as laid down by the regulations.”

The offence came to light after a break-in was reported at Lord Keen’s home on Ann Street in Edinburgh last Hogmanay, while the couple were away.

Officers found a 12 bore Stephen Grant shotgun in Lord Keen’s basement, which had been left out of its secure cabinet.

Solicitor advocate Simon Catto, for Mr Keen, said he had been out shooting on December 27 and had left the gun in the basement with the intention of cleaning it. However, he forgot about it before going on holiday the next day.

Lord Keen called the police after he received an alert on his phone that his alarm system had been triggered.

The upper floors of the property were ransacked by burglars, but they had not entered the basement.

Mr Catto said: “He shoots approximately ten times per year. He has been a shotgun enthusiast for around 25 years and has held a firearms certificate.

“He is therefore fully aware of what’s expected and required of him in terms of the certificate. He accepts on this occasion he fell below that.”

Mr Catto added: “The house was locked, the alarm was set and no-one else had authority to enter the property. Other than the burglars who had no business being there, no-one else would have access to the property.

“This case and the consequent publicity has been the source of considerable embarrassment and he has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”

Sheriff Crowe said: “It is very fortunate that when the house was ransacked that the housebreakers did not go down to the basement area.”