Border officials intercepted stun gun from China ordered by Hartlepool man

UK Border Force intercepted two parcels addressed to Shaun Prince’s address that had been sent from China and the Netherlands.

Both contained stun guns while the one from China was disguised to look like a make up container.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said it was intercepted on August 7 last year and addressed to Prince’s home in Jutland Road, Hartlepool.

It was found to contain a stun gun and torch about five inches long disguised to look like a mascara container that when activated produced a current between electrodes.

On September 7, UK Border Force intercepted a similar parcel from Holland which had inside an anti-riot taser and came with three ammunition cartridges.

Mr Abrahams said: “On November 13 2019 officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home explaining they were there to find prohibited weapons.

"The defendant offered to get them and produced two stun devices.”

One was capable of discharging 5,500 volts.

Police also discovered four cannabis plants that police said could have produced drugs with a street value of about £1,000.

Prince, 53, said they were for his own use.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of purchasing or acquiring a prohibited weapon, two of possessing a weapon for electrical incapacitation, one of acquiring ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, and production of a class B drug.

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Prince had a previous conviction for having CS gas in 1998.

Ian Mullarkey, defending, said the cannabis was “entirely consistent with personal use.”

The court heard the devices were not lethal, Prince had not used them and it was said he had no intention to.

The judge said he believed he was buying ‘novelty’ items.

Recorder Catherine Silverton said: “Having regard to the number of offences, the fact one of the stun guns was disguised and your previous conviction, I take the view there must be a custodial sentence.”

But she said it could be suspended due to the mitigating factors.

Prince was given 18 months prison suspended for two years and a three-month night time home curfew.

The stun guns were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

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