A teenager who used a 3D printer in an attempt to build a semi-automatic gun has been spared jail.
James Maris, 19, used the Christmas present from his parents to manufacture parts for a firearm known as an FGC-9.
Maris was caught by police after officers acting on intelligence raided the family home in Rannoch, Perthshire, in May 2023.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said 3D-printed firearm components were recovered during a search of Maris’s bedroom.
These included a hammer, magazine, catch, trigger, safety, grip, and a buffer assembly which had been ordered online to allow him to manufacture the gun.
Officers also found ammunition which would have been capable of being fired from the weapon.
A court heard how forensic scientists had assessed Maris was nearing the end of the manufacturing process and was in possession of all the parts required to finalise the building of the complete firearm.
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‘Fascination with firearms’
COPFS said Maris admitted to the authorities that he had a fascination with firearms and purchased the 3D gun parts online from his laptop.
Judge Lady Hood noted that Maris had told police he had built it “for a hobby and had no intention of using it to hurt anyone”.
A handwritten letter found by police during their search also reiterated Maris’ stance that he did not intend to “cause harm or spread any message or belief”.
Lady Hood added: “There was no evidence of extreme political views on your part, or any connection to terrorism or organised crime.”
Maris – who was diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and significant anxiety – claimed his intention was to ultimately destroy the components or hand them in to Police Scotland.
‘Maris relieved when police arrived’
During a criminal justice social work (CJSW) report, he told the assessor he became “terrified” for himself and his parents when he began to realise the seriousness of his actions while building the gun and was “relieved” when the police came knocking.
Maris pleaded guilty to four firearms offences at the High Court in Edinburgh last October.
The crimes normally carry a minimum term of three years’ detention, but Lady Hood said she was satisfied there were “exceptional circumstances” to warrant a non-custodial punishment.
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The judge said she took account of Maris’ age, immaturity and health conditions, his lack of previous convictions, his expressions of remorse, the lack of any “sinister or concerning material” found on his computer, his low risk of reoffending, and a psychiatrist’s opinion that his “focused interest in firearms has passed”.
Returning to the dock on Tuesday, Lady Hood told Maris: “In all of the circumstances, I am persuaded that a community disposal, rather than a custodial disposal, is appropriate in your case.”
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Maris was handed a community payback order (CPO) with 300 hours of unpaid work and three years of supervision.
He was also made the subject of a restriction of liberty order (RLO), where he will be tagged and prohibited from leaving his home between the hours of 8pm and 6am for 12 months.
In addition, the judge also imposed a number of conduct requirements for three years – including limiting his mobile phone and computer ownership to one each; allowing the devices to be accessed by police and his supervising officer if requested; and banning him from using encryption software and deleting his internet browsing history.
