A CARDIGAN couple found with a homemade stun gun didn’t realise it was classed as an offensive weapon, magistrates have heard.

Anthony Harman, 42, and 40-year-old Tracy Norton, both of 9 Rhydyfelin, admitted possessing a weapon designed to discharge electricity after­ a police dog discovered the taser in their home while a search warrant was being executed.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said that police, including a police dog, executed a search warrant at the couple’s home on 26 June.

Whilst in the bedroom the dog discovered a black cylindrical object which fell off a bedside table.

When it hit the floor, though, it sparked causing the dog to flinch away and a check by an officer found that it was a homemade stun gun cap­able of discharging an electric current from prongs at the end.

Norton told police that she had the stun gun as protection and hadn’t used it or taken it out of the house.

A further search of the property found components that could be used to make similar stun guns, as well as plans and battery packs.

In a police interview, Harman told police he had made the stun gun by following instructions on the internet, but hadn’t realised it was illegal.

Nortan said she had kept it for protection as she had been receiving threats on Facebook.

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