A north-east man has been fined £600 for owning a stun gun, despite police finding that the holiday purchase was “completely inoperable”.
Jake Pottinger bought the device, disguised as a torch, while abroad with friends several years ago.
But after lying in a drawer unused it was found by police under “completely different circumstances” in December and the 27-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Pottinger, who lives on Cummings Park Drive in the city, pleaded guilty to owing the weapon.
The court heard it had left police technicians baffled when they tried to inspect it.
Sheriff Andrew Miller said: “You purchased this item on holiday while abroad with friends a number of years ago, when you were a much younger man.
“Its function as a stun gun was completely inoperable, for reasons those who examined the device were never really able to get to the bottom of.
“Even if you wanted to use the stun function, you wouldn’t have been able to.”
As well as the £600 fine, Sheriff Miller ordered the forfeiture of the device.
Aberdeen man fined for owning stun gun – despite it being unable to stun anyone
