A first-time gun offender was told on Friday that he had to shell out “some serious money” if he wanted to feel the court’s mercy, otherwise he would spend some time in jail.But 38-year-old Jason Leon Ronald Knight, of 17 Main Avenue, Eden Lodge, St Michael, had no funds when he turned up at the No. 3 Supreme Court for sentencing on a 10-year-old gun crime.As such, he was unable to pay the $15 000 forthwith fine imposed for having a .357 Magnum handgun on June 29, 2012. Another $8 000 was imposed for his possession of eight rounds of ammunition, but he has three months in which to settle that amount. Failure to pay the amounts will attract an 18-month prison sentence.After he was informed by Knight’s lawyer, Simon Clarke, that he had no money to pay the upfront fine, Justice Carlisle Greaves said “the public’s confidence has to be maintained,” as he insisted that the public “must never perceive that these courts are soft” when it comes to firearm matters.