A court has been told how Border Force agents intercepted a dangerous stun gun torch bound for the home of an Angus 61-year-old after he bought it over the internet.
International logistics operatives seized the £15 weapon after it arrived in the UK from the Netherlands destined for delivery to John Healy’s address in Forfar.
The handyman claimed the ‘outdoor self-defence flashlight’ had been a rash purchase made after too much booze.
But cyber-crime experts who examined Healy’s computer after a search warrant was executed at his home found the search history littered with terms relating to stun guns, air weapons and even a cattle prod.
Healy, of Academy Court in Forfar, admitted importing the stun gun between May 1 and 27 2016, but will not be sentenced until next month after a sheriff said he was “sceptical” about the conflicting explanations for the offence which the accused had given to social workers during preparation of a criminal justice report into what his lawyer described as a “baffling” crime.
Sheriff Derek Reekie at Forfar has also ordered an electronic tag assessment on Healy after noting that the maximum jail term he could impose in relation to the offence was just six months – minus discount the accused is entitled to for admitting his wrongdoing.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Border Force personnel suspected the package contained a stun gun and that set in motion the chain of events which led to a search of Healy’s home in July 2016.
The order for the torch – from a seller with stun gun in their title – was found, along with the various other weapons-related searches.
Defence solicitor Brian Bell said Healy had obtained a refund for the item, which Healy initially claimed had been because of a change of heart.
“It is clear from the outset there was clear intent to purchase this item,” said Mr Bell.
“He recognises this is a serious offence. He has a limited history of offending, albeit with an assault conviction for a significant offence.
“This item is illegal and illegal for a good reason, which is all the more baffling why someone his age would want to purchase something like this.”
Sheriff Reekie told Healy: “I have to approach this with caution and a degree of scepticism.
“It has also been prosecuted on summary complaint and that limits my options in terms of the length of custodial sentence.
“Aside from the circumstances of the offence, my inclination given the various shifts of position is that I am bound to be quite sceptical about all sorts of things.
“The report we have, through no fault of the social worker, is of no assistance because it proceeds on a fundamentally inaccurate basis because of a variety of explanations and attempted explanations.”
Healy will return to court on November 21 for sentencing.
