The recent appeal case of Matthew Brereton overturned by the Appeal Court to have his sentence reduced brought to light one of the few cases where the English Courts see evidence of a stun gun disguised as a mobile phone (http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2012/85.html). The casew was also reported 10th February in the the Star online news (owner_of_stun_gun_loses_prison_appeal).
One interesting aspect of this case is the adaption of a Blackberry mobile phone, where previously the styles of mobile design have hinted towards designs that roughly gave the outline impression of a Nokia or SonyEricsson etc type phone:
http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-comparisons-between-taser-and-stun.html
http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2007/10/another-mobile-telephone-stun-gun.html
http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2007/07/stun-gun-cellphone.html
There are other mobile devices, such as stun guns disguised as Pagers etc, which are being sold as personal protection equipment in the US and other countries, where people may believe bringing them into the UK is acceptable. Mr Justice Irwin sets out in the Appeal ruling the relevant section of the Firearms Act 1968:
- "The relevant statutory provisions applicable to the firearms offence are as follows:
"Firearms Act 1968
Section 5(1):
A person commits an offence if, without the authority of the Defence Council, he has in his possession……
(b) Any weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid gas or other thing ……."
Additionl background info on Mobile Phones adapted to fire bullets:
http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2008/11/mobile-phone-that-fires-bullets.html
http://www.trewmte.blogspot.com/2012/02/smaller-caliber-guided-bullet.html
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