Drug dealer says he thought Taser was really a torch
JUDGE: ‘NO DISRESPECT, BUT YOU’RE NOT THE BRIGHTEST’
A CONVICTED drug dealer who was caught cycling around the streets of Hull with a Taser-style weapon has narrowly avoided jail.
Police were on patrol in Anlaby Road at 11.50pm on April 26 last year when they spotted Christopher Moxon riding his bicycle with a TV under his arm.
“It is hardly surprising the police thought it was nicked,” said Judge Mark Bury at Hull Crown Court. “That is why they stopped you.
“It may well have been, but they couldn’t prove that.”
The 37-year-old, of Plane Street, west Hull was searched by officers who found a black pouch containing what looked like a torch inside.
“The officer pressed numerous switches on the torch and then heard a cracking sound followed by pulses of electricity,” said the prosecuting barrister in the case.
Moxon told police that he had no idea that what he was carrying was in fact a taser and that he always thought it was a torch.
At the time Moxon was serving a two-year suspended sentence for drug dealing and carrying the prohibited weapon put him in breach of that order.
Judge Bury said: “This item, which you thought looked like a torch, was in fact a Taser which is a prohibited weapon.
“There is no evidence that you used it and, without meaning to be disrespectful, you are not the brightest person and you thought it was a torch. I am going to sentence you on that basis.
“I could fine you, but you have probably got no money or I could conditionally discharge you. That is what I am going to do.
“If you were to do something stupid you would be in breach of not only the conditional discharge, but also the suspended sentence and no one is going to keep you out of jail then.
“If you want to go to jail then carry on.”
Moxon will continue to serve his suspended sentence and Judge Bury also added a drug rehabilitation requirement to his sentence
“I suspect drugs have got you into quite a bit of trouble in the past,” said Judge Bury.
“You are not getting any younger and you need to make sure you do not get involved in drug-related offending. If you were to get into trouble it would be difficult to not lock you up for two years.”