Scots student bought stun gun online without knowing it could deliver 1 million volts

A foolish student who bought a stun gun online had it intercepted by Royal Mail security staff before it emerged it was capable of discharging one million volts.

Siobhan Patrick, 22, purchased the “multi-functional” torch on the internet from Singapore.

It had a number of features on it and was described as having a “fashionable”design.

But there was no mention on the packaging about it being a taser or a stun gun.

Before it reached her home in Holytown, Lanarkshire, it was intercepted by security staff at the Royal Mail’s logistics centre in Berkshire and a probe launched.

An investigation revealed it contained an illegal stun gun which could produce one million volts.

A legal police issue taser is only capable of discharging 50,000 volts. The package was addressed to Patrick, who is studying health and social care at college, and she was arrested by police and charged after they swooped on her home.

Patrick went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court where she was unanimously convicted of purchasing the stun gun in March 2018.

Sheriff Douglas Brown sentenced her to 120 hours of unpaid work and said he believed there was nothing “sinister” about her buying the stun gun online.

Bobby Reid, defending, said: “Care should have been taken not to have this in her possession.

“The report paints the picture of a young lady who is doing her best in life. She is studying health and social care at college and also works in Home Bargains.”

Jurors had earlier heard from firearms expert Alan Henderson who told them he did not believe the torch was a disguised stun gun and that it was simply one of the features of the device.

Sheriff Brown said: “I accept that the evidence did not disclose anything sinister in the purchase of this item and take into account the positive terms of the report.”