A GREENOCK man is behind bars after being caught by police transporting guns.

Ku Wing Kwok, 42, has been locked up after he admitted possessing illegal firearms and ammunition without a licence.

His accomplice, Mark Kirkby, was also jailed after the pair admitted their guilt at the High Court in Glasgow.

They have been sentenced to five years each in prison.

The swoop came after Police Scotland had received intelligence that Kirkby, 38, would be involved in the transfer of firearms in the car park of Ardeer Golf Club in Stevenston on September 1 last year.

Officers launched a surveillance operation and watched as Kwok arrived there in a car at 4.24pm.

Half an hour later, another car, with Kirkby in the front passenger seat, arrived and parked right next to the Greenock man's vehicle.

Kirkby was seen opening the boot of Kwok’s car and emptying the contents of a drawstring bag and both cars then left in different directions.

Kwok was pulled over in Largs as he headed towards Greenock on the A78.

When officers searched the vehicle, they found five replica pistols which had been modified to shoot live ammunition.

There were also two boxes of 9mm bullets.

Later that evening, Kirkby’s home in Stevenson was searched, where six mobile phones and £2,970 in cash was found.

Senior Crown officials have welcomed the successful prosecution.

Procurator fiscal for major crime, David Green, said: “The possession of illegal and potentially deadly firearms is extremely dangerous and poses real harm to the community.

“Removing these guns from the streets goes some way towards removing that harm.

Pictures: Crown Office.