Burnley man converted camera into stun gun

Darren Laycock, 25, claimed he did it as a joke to give his friend a shock when he asked him to take a picture.

Burnley Crown Court heard Laycock told police about the device when they turned up at his home in the town to search for drugs.

An expert, who had to examine it to see if it was dangerous or not, said a discharge from such a stun gun was capable of going through clothing and would cause pain, startle and repel the person it was used against.

The defendant, of Brougham Street, Burnley, admitted possessing a prohibited weapon, on January 26. He was given 12 months supervision with 80 hours unpaid work.

Sentencing, Recorder Roderick Carus, QC, said Laycock had not tried to hide the device and did not have it for any nefarious or criminal purpose. But he told him: "These are dangerous days to have anything of this nature in your possession and you had better not do it again or anything like it."

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said when police arrived at his house, Laycock immediately told them there was a small amount of cannabis on a window sill. Officers told him they would search the property further and he volunteered the information he had a disposable camera converted, in effect, into a stun gun, in a drawer. The implement was seized.

Miss Statham said the defendant admitted he had himself converted the camera with the help of something he had seen on YouTube.

Laycock told police he had not taken the implement out of his home and had never used it on anybody. The defendant had 16 previous convictions, but nothing for similar offences.

Richard Taylor, for Laycock, said he had not understood the significance of the offence he had committed until it was pointed out to him.

The malice behind the object was in reality a joke. He intended to give the camera to a friend to take a photo of him. The solicitor said: "The friend's hand would come into contact with the wires and he would get a small electric shock."