Bank guard took stun gun to work
Security worker loses job over incident:
A BANK security guard lost his job after taking a stun gun that looked like a torch into work to “show off” to his colleagues.
Derrick Edwards told the police he used the torch on dark mornings and took the item into work because a co-worker was interested in torches.
Cardiff Crown Court heard one member of staff described hearing a “loud crackling noise” four or five times on September 11 last year.
Lisa McCormick, prosecuting, said Edwards was working as a security guard at Lloyds Bank in Dumballs Road in Cardiff at the time.
She told the court: “He went to his place of work with a stun gun, or Taser, having the appearance of a torch in his hand.
“He gave demonstrations of the stun gun to employees.”
The court heard that that afternoon he went outside, took the firearm out of his pocket and told his colleague to press a button.
Ms McCormick said the colleague did not know what the stun gun was and felt “uncomfortable”.
Several members of staff saw him using it and someone reported the incident to a manager.
Edwards was arrested and handed over the weapon to the police.
When he was interviewed, he said he suspected it was a Taser, but he was “not 100% sure”.
He told officers a friend brought it back from Spain for him three or four months before.
Prosecutors said the stun gun was just under 15cm long and designed to discharge a high voltage that would leave someone disorientated and unable to move for several minutes.
Ms McCormick said: “Fortunately no-one was harmed as a result.”
The offence was not charged as having a disguised firearm, which would have attracted a mandatory minimum sentence.
Prosecutors said he had 37 previous offences on his record, but none weaponrelated.
Edwards, 57, from Bryn Deri in Bryntirion, Bridgend, admitted possessing a prohibited weapon.
Robert Chudleigh, defending, said it was given to him as a gift, but accepted he showed “questionable judgement”.
He said the dad-of-five lost his job and is now due to start working at a factory.
Judge Tracey LloydClarke asked why Edwards discharged the weapon.
Mr Chudleigh replied: “He cannot effectively answer that, Your Honour.
“It may be a case of the defendant showing off.”
The judge asked why he discharged it repeatedly.
Mr Chudleigh said: “He is effectively saying it was a foolish decision on his part.” He stressed no damage or harm was caused.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said the defendant took the stun gun to work deliberately, but was not intending to use it.
She said: “You were showing off with this to people at work.”
Edwards was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, plus 10 days of a rehabilitation activity.
He must pay £535 in costs. An order was made for the stun gun to be destroyed.