A St Michael man who claimed he found an unlicensed firearm while working at the National Botanical Gardens has been fined $30,000 to avoid a prison sentence after a judge dismissed his account as unbelievable.

Shakeem Romario Clarke of Deanes Village, Hindsbury Road, had previously pleaded guilty to having a Glock .40 calibre semi-automatic pistol along with 12 rounds of ammunition on July 19, 2022.

At his sentencing hearing, Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens urged the court to consider a fine for the offences. But Justice Christopher Birch had one question: where did he get the gun?