A CARLISLE man who had a banned stun gun disguised as a torch hidden away in his bedroom has been jailed for five years.
Michael John Kenney, 27, was sentenced at the city’s crown court this afternoon (WED).
At a previous hearing he had admitted possessing a disguised firearm without proper authority – an offence which triggered a minimum five-year jail term due to the item being classed as a prohibited weapon.
The Fox-810 electronic stun device was discovered in a safe in Kenney’s bedroom on January 25 by police as they executed a warrant at his home.
Forensic testing concluded the device was not operational, even after batteries had been charged.
Kenney – a man with a lengthy criminal record – was said to have bought the banned item for £50 for “self-defence”. The court heard he had spoken of owing a £20,000 debt to “dangerous criminals”.
Judge James Adkin jailed Kenney, of Bowscale Close, Carlisle, concluding there were no exceptional circumstances to reduce the minimum five-year prison term.
“He knew it was a weapon and what was it was designed for, and kept it as such,” said Judge Adkin.
