Hartlepool man warned he is facing five years in jail for having taser disguised as a torch

Liam Hunter from Hartlepool pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a disguised firearm when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, November 20.

Hunter, 21, of Montague Street, admitted having the weapon on April 7 of this year.

Under the law, the offence carries a minimum starting sentence of five years in prison.

His barrister Martin Scarborough told the judge there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ which he hoped would reduce the sentence from the five-year starting point.

Mr Scarborough asked for the case to be adjourned to learn more background information about Hunter and the offence.

The judge, Recorder Toby Hedworth QC, agreed and adjourned it until early next year for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

He said to Hunter: “You know that in all normal circumstances there has to be a minimum sentence of five years for possession of a taser in these circumstances.

"The court will hear argument on your behalf as to whether there are exceptional circumstances to allow the court to take a different course.

"Please understand I’m not binding the hands of the eventual court at all. Whoever deals with you will have as a starting point that five year minimum term but I want you to have the opportunity for everything that can be said about you to be.”

Hunter will return to the crown court to be sentenced on Tuesday, January 5.

He was granted unconditional bail in the meantime.

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