Taser test backfires

Illegal weapons found

A DRUG dealer found with a range of illegal weapons suffered a self-inflicted electroshock when he fired a Taser at himself to see if it was working.

The Taser was found alongside a machete, Winchester gun, knuckleduster and rounds of ammunition during a police raid on a Whittington property back in May.

Police also uncovered $2000 worth of methamphetamines, $150 worth of cannabis, two vials of steroids and an assortment of prescription drugs Valium and Seroquel.

Beau Forehan, 26, yesterday pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court to a raft of drugs and weapons charges.

The young father had been living in a caravan on the back of his parents’ property when he came under the attention of police.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kylie Jane told the court that officers discovered four sets of digital scales, three tick lists and the drugs in multiple bags.

Forehan admitted in a police interview that he was a regular ice and cannabis user and had operated the Taser on himself to test its capability, Sen-Constable Jane said.

His defence counsel, Simon Northeast, said Forehan had been dealing drugs to help pay for his own use.

The 26-year-old had spent 11 days in police custody following the raid, before he was granted bail in early June. He has since moved to another family member’s house, where he was abiding by the credit bail program and was meeting his early evening curfew, Mr Northeast told the court.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said Forehan’s “considerable progress” since he was bailed, and his co-operation with police, had helped him avoid a further term of imprisonment.

Forehan was instead placed on a 12-month community corrections order, where he would be assessed for a range of support programs.