Joshua Williams pleaded guilty to importing the stun-gun when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court
A TEENAGER bought a stun-gun disguised as an Apple iPhone because he thought it was "cool", a court has heard.
Joshua Williams purchased the Chinese-made weapon on the internet and had it posted to his home in Morriston — but it was intercepted by UK Border Force officers who alerted South Wales Police.
Swansea Crown Court heard that when he was arrested, Williams told officers he didn't know it was a prohibited item.
A judge told the 18-year-old that courts took such offences seriously because similar kinds of weapons had "become part of youth culture".
Williams, of Llanllienwen Road, Cwmrhydyceirw, had previously pleaded guilty to importing the weapon — contrary to the Customs and Excise Management Act — when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Angela Ricciardi, prosecuting, told the court that the weapon was intercepted on July 16 and examined by border agency staff.
Details were passed to South Wales Police, who arrested the teenager on July 30.
The barrister said: "In police interview he said he ordered it because it was a cool item. He said he did not realise in was a prohibited item and he did not intend to use it."
The court heard that when the weapons was tested by police firearms experts it was found to be fully charged, and produced a "spark" between the terminals on the end of phone, though the voltage of the discharge had not been tested.
Lee Davies, in mitigation, said his client was a young man of clean character who was doing an electrical engineering apprenticeship.
The advocate told the court there were no specific sentencing guidelines for such importation offences, and he urged the judge to use his discretion.
Recorder Jonathan Ferris said he was satisfied the defendant was a well-educated man who did not have gang connections — but he said the courts took such weapon offences seriously.
The judge said: "We are struggling with an increase in weapons in everyday life.
"The fact that you thought this item was 'cool' shows the dangers. These sorts of weapons have become part of youth culture — that is the reason why this offence is treated so seriously."
Williams was given a 12 month community order and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £60 victim surcharge, £180 criminal courts charge and £340 in prosecution costs.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-teenager-bought-cool-iPhone-stun-gun/story-28149558-detail/story.html#ixzz3rJW4l8Go
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