A 31-YEAR-old Hanley Swan man caught with an illegal stun gun disguised as a smart phone in his home has received a suspended prison sentence.

Glen Hodgkins, of Malvern Meadows Caravan Park, Blackmore Park, Hanley Swan, pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court yesterday to possessing a prohibited weapon.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, told the Court that the police searched Hopkins’ mobile home in connection with a burglary and discovered the stun gun among the toiletries.

She said: “According to a firearms expert. the stun gun looks like a regular smartphone - but it did not function as one. It had stun electronics concealed within the unit. The expert was not able to make the stun gun function, because he believed that one of the buttons was broken or it had an internal fault. However the torch element of the device did work.

“The stun gun was a genuine firearm when it was working, but the prosecution cannot prove that it was ever used. If it was working it could have been able to incapacitate somebody, but it would not have been lethal. In interview Hodgkins said he had no knowledge of the device and suggested that one of the children had brought it into the caravan.”

Jason Aris, defending, said the stun gun was not hidden but had been discarded in a cupboard. Mr Aris said: “The device was broken and it didn’t work. He hadn’t used it and denied ever knowing that it was in his possession. Hodgkins lives at the static mobile home park with his partner and four children."

Judge Recorder Paul Garlick said to Hodgkins: “This is a very serious offence. However I do accept that there is no evidence that this firearm could have been used because of its broken condition at the time.

“You did not make use of it and there is no evidence that you had any intention of using the device. There is no evidence that anybody was exposed to any danger.

“A guilty plea in these cases attracts a custodial sentence, but in this instance I feel that the circumstances are such that it can be suspended.”

The judge sentenced Hodgkins to a 12 month prison term, suspended for 24 months and ordered him to comply with a a two year community order that includes attending 30 programme sessions and undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the weapon.