Man, 46, hid drugs in his freezer

A MAN caught with a stun gun in his bedroom and crossbow in his kitchen told police he also had drugs in his freezer.

Edwin Bratcher, 46, saw an officer with a Taser and admitted he had a similar device in his bedroom cupboard as well as a bag of amphetamine in the fridgefreezer.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Tom Crowther QC noted the case involved “highly unusual circumstances”.

The court heard Bratcher called 999 on the evening of May 23 stating he had a knife and was planning to harm himself.

Emma Harris, prosecuting, said the police went to his home on Romilly Road in Canton, Cardiff, and found him on the sofa.

She said: “He pointed towards the knife on the floor.”

The court heard an officer moved the knife to a safe position then the defendant mentioned having other weapons in his flat.

Prosecutors said police found a black Taser disguised as a flashlight in the bedroom cupboard.

They also found a crossbow in the kitchen cupboard.

The court heard Bratcher told police: “I’ve also got some amphetamine in the freezer.”

Officers found a ziplock bag containing white powder in the freezer.

He was arrested and interviewed the next day when he admitted buying the stun gun online for £18.

Bratcher said someone had given him the amphetamine and accepted using some.

Prosecutors said he had been before the courts for 17 previous offences including theft, public disorder and drugrelated matters.

Bratcher admitted possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing amphetamine.

Neil Evans, mitigating, said his client had been diagnosed with mental health problems and he had not committed any offences since 2011.

Judge Crowther imposed a two-year community order requiring him to complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity.

He made an order for the stun gun to be confiscated and Bratcher must pay £100 towards prosecution costs.