A Fife man was caught buying two stun gun “torches” after they were intercepted by UK Border Force.
John Daly, 33, bought the items from online retailer Wish.com.
Just over two weeks later, a package was received at Gatwick Airport by airmail on a flight from Taiwan.
A UK Border Force officer examined the package – addressed to John Daly at an address in Dunfermline’s Targate Road – and found the declared contents described as a gift, flashlight with a value of $3 US.
The two stun guns were found inside.
They are banned in the UK and treated as a firearm, with a statutory prison term of five years for purchasing them available to sentencing authorities.
The purchase on Wish.com was for “high electric shock flashlight women self defence tools police 928 heavy duty rechargeable with LED flashlight”.
‘Surprising’ they can be easily bought
Daly, of Rosyth’s Torridon Place, previously pled guilty under the Firearms Act 1968 to purchasing the weapons on October 1 2018.
He appeared in Dunfermline Sheriff Court this week for sentencing.
Defence lawyer Pete Robertson said his client’s position is one of naivety, having “bought something for his parents” he accepts he should not have.
Mr Robertson described the ease of buying such an item online as “quite surprising”.
He added: “Anyone with access to a computer does not have to do much.
“You don’t have to dive in to the dark web to obtain it”.
He said: “These are non-lethal self-defence devices.
“One can compare to things such as knives… not as serious a weapon as a knife, which is easy to get hold of.”
The link to the item on Wish-com did not appear to be working this week.
Stun gun effects
Explaining the effects of someone being attacked by a stun gun, Mr Robertson said a quarter second use might have a minor effect on the muscles.
He said one to four seconds would make someone fall to the ground, while use for more than five seconds would immobilise someone and cause disorientation and loss of balance, leaving the person weak for “some minutes”.
Referring to a photograph of the weapon, Sheriff Susan Duff said: “It looks more like a torch”.
The sheriff told Daly: “This was a combination of naivety and probably alcohol, as well and making a stupid decision.
“You have now realised any form of firearm is not permitted in this country, and I think for very good reason.”
Sheriff Duff sentenced Daly to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.
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