Moray widow Kathleen Woodward spared jail over illegal pistol
A Moray widow who faced a five-year jail sentence for illegally possessing a gun has walked free from court.
Grandmother Kathleen Woodward, 64, of Forres, had a pistol stolen during a break-in, and later admitted storing the weapon without a licence.
She could have been jailed under firearms legislation.
However, judge Lady Stacey said she felt there were enough unusual circumstances in the case to allow her to admonish Woodward.
Guy Whitelaw had been jailed for five years for "unwittingly" stealing the gun in 2011.
He told police he discovered the weapon in a cash box he took from the house.
His sentence was later reduced to six months.