A man who was found by cops in a Paisley street told them he thought his stun gun was a torch.
David Park arrived at Paisley Sheriff Court on Friday armed with a large bag of his personal belongings as his lawyer advised ‘he came here today prepared for the worst.’
Park, 51, admitted he was in possession of a stun gun on April 4, 2018, in Paisley’s Queen Street, and he also admitted he had the prohibited weapon in his possession without holding a firearms certificate.
Procurator fiscal Kerry Marshall told the court: “Around 3.50pm on April 4, PC Slater and PC Anderson where on uniformed patrol on Queen Street in Paisley when they saw the accused.
“The noted Park appeared to be under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.
“When speaking with the accused officers couldn’t smell alcohol which indicated he was under the influence of drugs.
“Officers noted the accused attempted to conceal something on him.
“The accused was detained for the purposes of a search.
“In the accused’s right jacket pocket, a taser was recovered.
“The accused stated, ‘I don’t know what that is, I thought it was a torch.’
“On April 9, a lab report was carried out which found the item to be a device with two electrodes that sparked when utilised.
“The item was a stun gun with audible and visible sparks and is a prohibited weapon.
“The accused was then arrested and cautioned at Greenock police station where he made no reply.”
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Defence agent Robert Mitchell explained the offence was now four years old and that Park who had attended at court with a large Sports Direct carrier bag full of personal items as he was “prepared for the worst.”
Sheriff Eoin McGinty deferred sentencing to call for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Sheriff McGinty ordered that the stun gun is brought in to court on the next hearing to see if it resembles a torch in anyway.
Park, of Wellington Street in Greenock will return to court next month for sentencing.
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