An eBay businessman who imported stun guns and 50 extendable batons is behind bars after a sheriff blasted his “plan to sell them to others”.
Evaldas Vaicekauskas is facing a lengthy jail term over the haul, which was discovered when Border Force officers intercepted a package from China that the Lithuanian national had bought on eBay.
But Vaicekauskas – who runs a business trading in mobile phone and tablet accessories online – won’t face a mandatory minimum five-year sentence over the stun gun haul as they only just miss the criteria.
Dundee Sheriff Court was shown one of the stun guns, which are hidden in torches.
The court was told that because the torch part is “fully function as opposed to being a stun gun disguised as a torch” they are deemed to have a dual use, so don’t require a minimum jail term.
Vaicekauskas’s lawyer claimed the 23-year-old only bought the items because he “thought they looked cool” and denied he planned to sell them.
But a sheriff rubbished his explanation saying: “If that’s the case why did he buy 50 of the batons?”
Vaicekauskas, 23, of Fraser Path, Arbroath, pleaded guilty on indictment to being concerned in the importation of prohibited goods in January.
He also admitted a charge under the Firearms Act relating to the stun guns.
The offences took place at his home in Arbroath and at his business address in Thistle Street, Dundee.
Defence solicitor Lee Quimseh said: “My instructions are that there was no intention to sell. He simply purchased them because he thought they looked cool and no other reason.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports and remanded Vaicekauskas in custody meantime.
He said: “It appears to me that ordering weapons from China is going out of one’s way to commit an offence.
“The only conceivable inference for importing 50 weapons is an intention to supply to other people.
“Those who import weapons with what appears to be a commercial motivation can expect no sympathy from this court.”
