Man jailed for mobile phone stun guns

A man has been jailed for possessing stun guns that had been disguised as mobile phones. Iain Pottinger, 32, from Bower Street, North Reddish pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing a firearm at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court to four years in prison for possession of a firearm and two years in prison for assault, which will run concurrently.

In November 2012, officers executed a search warrant at a house on Bower Street in North Reddish. Officers searched the house and two vehicles parked outside. In one of the vehicles, officers found five high power stun guns concealed in the boot. All five stun guns had been disguised as mobile phones. Pottinger was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm. After examination it was found the weapons were prohibited firearms as defined under the Firearms Act. Pottinger claimed he bought the stun guns for protection and had never used them. However, the investigation found that he imported the stun guns from China and intended to sell them on. Detective Constable Mark Healey said:

The assault happened on 5 September 2012 on Thomas Street in Manchester city centre.