Musician, 52, bought a stun gun disguised as a torch as a 'last resort' because ... trends now
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A musician faces being sent to prison for five-years after buying a stun gun disguised as a torch to protect himself from being murdered by a riled-up neighbour.
Michael Cosgrove, from Dundee, may face a mandatory five-year jail term under laws banning the holding of any weapon disguised as something else.
Cosgrove told Perth Sheriff Court he had bought the firearm online as a 'last resort' for his own protection, claiming an upstairs neighbour was going to murder him for playing his guitar too loudly.
The 52-year-old was granted bail as sentencing was deferred, although Solicitor Doug McConnell told the court there may be 'exceptional circumstances' which could keep his client out of prison.
Sheriff William Wood told Cosgrove to build a case if he wanted to avoid the mandatory minimum prison term.
It is an offence to possess, purchase or acquire a stun gun disguised as something else in the UK. Stun guns can be disguised as mobile phones or torches (Stock Image)
Michael Cosgrove told Perth Sheriff Court (pictured) that he had bought the firearm online as a 'last resort' for his own protection
Stun guns can legally be used by the police, however they are only used by highly-trained officers (Stock Image)
Sheriff William Wood told Cosgrove: 'On the next occasion, I expect to hear submissions as to why the mandatory minimum sentence should not apply to you.'
The electroshock weapon, designed to look like a torch and widely available on the internet, was intercepted by Border Force officers.
