A man who was in possession of a stun gun in a Paisley street four years ago has been jailed.
David Park claimed the lethal weapon was a torch when cops confronted him in April 2018.
Park admitted the offence in February at Paisley Sheriff Court and Sheriff Eoin McGinty deferred sentencing for reports until March.
But the lout failed to appear at his sentencing hearing on March 16 and a warrant was granted for his arrest.
On Friday, Sheriff McGinty sentenced Park to 12 months in custody.
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Court heard that the 51-year-old was stopped on April 4, 2018 by officers who were suspicious of his behaviour.
Procurator fiscal Kerry Marshall previously told the court: “Around 3.50pm on April 4, PC Slater and PC Anderson were on uniformed patrol on Queen Street, in Paisley, when they saw the accused.
“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.”
Park admitted to being in possession of a stun gun and he also admitted he had the weapon without holding a firearms certificate.
Defence agent Robert Mitchell explained four years had passed since the incident and that Park was “prepared for the worst”.
Sheriff Eoin McGinty jailed Park, of Wellington Street, in Greenock for 12 months.
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