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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stirling Observer

Prisoner has sentence extended after being caught with homemade weapon and SIM cards

A prisoner has had 21 months added to his sentence after a weapon and mobile phone SIM cards were found in his cell.

Police launched a manhunt for Reece Govan, whose last address was given as Plean, and warned the public not to approach him after he breached licence conditions in 2020 following his release from jail.

He was said to have links with Airdrie, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.

Govan was eventually captured and sent back to prison to complete his sentence for a knife crime.

The 26-year-old appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week, where he admitted possession of two SIM cards and a homemade weapon that comprised three razor blades attached to a wooden handle.

The items were found in his cell at HMP Shotts on June 9 last year.

The weapon was hidden in a shower gel bottle, while the SIM cards, wrapped in blue paper, were recovered from his bed.

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Defence agent Paul Kavanagh claimed the bladed weapon didn’t belong to Govan.

The solicitor stated: “He was moved to that cell 24 hours prior to the search.

“He was fully aware of the presence of this item so it was in his possession. He was using a mobile phone to call family members.

“His personal circumstances are unremarkable. He has a very short record with only eight convictions, though the last one is of some significance.”

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told the accused: “This was a gravely dangerous item and as it was found in prison it’s a very serious matter.”

Govan was jailed for 21 months, to be served when his current sentence ends.

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