A 47-YEAR-OLD man claimed he was in possession of a gun as he was about to be searched by police officers, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Jason Docherty pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by shouting and swearing, uttering offensive remarks and making the claim in Glensax Road, Peebles, on August 6 last year.

The court heard that the landscape gardener had been at a party in Peebles and was sleeping in a vehicle when officers arrived on the scene.

Fiscal Fiona Hamilton said Docherty swore at the officers and when asked if he had any items on him prior to a search he replied he had a gun.

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She added that thankfully the accused did not have a gun on him.

Docherty's lawyer said his client had got off to a wrong footing with the officers after being wakened by them and he had been trying to outdo them "by coming up with the best line".

He explained that Docherty actually had a large tattoo of a gun on his chest but accepted it was inappropriate to make the comment.

Docherty, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £10 Victim Surcharge.