Stun gun found in search at man’s home

AN “operational” stun gun and blank firearm ammunition was found inside a wardrobe in a man’s loft.

Dean Watts was arrested after an electronic stun device and blank ammunition for a firearm was found when a check was carried out at his home on April 6 this year.

The 30-year-old is banned from keeping any type of firearm following a suspended prison sentence for affray, Durham Crown Court heard.

Watts, of Dunelm Court, Brandon, Durham, appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for life. He pleaded guilty at the hearing.

The court heard the stun device was “operational and charged” and that Watts had 34 convictions for 73 offences, including a conviction for being involved in an affray where a machete was held to a man’s throat.

Jennifer Coxon, defending, asked for “full credit” to be given to Watts for his guilty pleas and said he was not at home at the time the items were found.

She said the items were originally at a friend’s home, but he took them back to his house and stored them in his loft where they were “simply in a wardrobe”.

Judge Ray Singh gave Watts a six-month community order and imposed a six-month electronic curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am.