Student imports 1million-volt stun gun ... but sheriff lets her walk free
A STUDENT who bought a stun gun online capable of discharging one million volts has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Siobhan Patrick, 22, purchased the ‘multi-functional’ torch on the internet.
Bought from a seller in Singapore, it had a number of features on it and was described as having a ‘fashionable’ design.
There was no mention on the packaging about it being a Taser or a stun gun. But before it reached Patrick’s home in Holytown, Lanarkshire, it was intercepted by security staff at the Royal Mail’s logistics centre in Berkshire and a probe launched.
An investigation revealed it had an illegal stun gun contained in it which could produce one million volts.
A police issue Taser is only capable of discharging 50,000 volts. Possession of an electric stun gun can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The package was addressed to Patrick, who is studying health and social care at college, and she was arrested by police and charged after they swooped on her home.
At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Patrick was unanimously convicted of purchasing the stun gun in March 2018.
Bobby Reid, defending, said: ‘There was nothing sinister with the purchase of this albeit it was foolish and naive to do this. Care should have been taken not to have this in her possession. The report paints the picture of a young lady who is doing her best in life.’
Jurors had earlier heard from firearms expert Alan Henderson who told them he did not believe the torch was a disguised stun gun and that it was simply one of the features of the device.
He added: ‘With this device, the torch gives a nice light and if you wanted to use it as a stun gun then it is also perfectly usable.’
The slightest touch against a target with a stun gun or Taser is enough to deliver the charge, and in extreme cases it may cause fatal heart attacks.
Sheriff Douglas Brown sentenced her to 120 hours of unpaid work and said: ‘I accept that the evidence did not disclose anything sinister in the purchase of this item.’