A LOCHGELLY man has been put behind bars after admitting drugs offences and being in possession of a firearm.

Mark Kirkland admitted supplying diamorphine as well as a stun gun which was disguised as a torch.

He had told police that he had only ever used the torch part of the weapon and the stun gun aspect had never worked since he had been in possession of the implement.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Kirkland, 44, of Watters Crescent, had previously admitted that between February 7 and May 14 last year, at his home and elsewhere, he was concerned in the supplying of a class A drug diamorphine.

On May 14 at his home, he was also in possession of a firearm which was disguised as another object, namely a stun gun disguised as a torch.

Solicitor Alexander Flett said the dual function weapon had been given to his client.

"It works as a torch and when in his possession, it worked as a torch," he said.

"It has never worked as a stun gun when in his possession. He owned a laser pen which he used to amuse his dog and an acquaintance told him he had a more powerful laser pen and this item was given to him. It was sitting on a wardrobe gathering dust.

"There is nothing sinister so far as that particular item is concerned."

Mr Flett said Kirkland had "not had his troubles to seek."

He told the Court: "He had moved away from Fife but was involved in a very serious car accident when he was 20 and his then girlfriend was killed in that car crash. He had been prescribed various medication and has had a problem with drugs ever since."

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed Kirkland for a total of two years and three months.

"The High Court of Judiciary has made it clear repeatedly that those who are in any way concerned in supplying class A drugs must expect to be dealt with severely," he said.

"The High Court has made it clear that that's the case even where circumstances have been difficult and even where they might, for example, have been put under pressure to look after drugs.The reason for that is trafficking class A drugs kills people.

"According to the last statistics that I saw, people are dying in Fife at the rate of about one a week as a result of class A drugs."