A HOARDER who obsessively bought gadgets on the internet has been jailed for five years after a police search uncovered eight stun guns.

At the High Court in Glasgow Walter Traynor, 59, of Robert Burns Avenue, Drumry, admitted having the stun guns – one was disguised as an iPhone, four as USB sticks, one as a torch and another as a key fob – in his home on September 9, 2019.

The remaining stun gun was not disguised.

At a hearing on Tuesday, judge Lady Stacey told Traynor: “While these items were not lethal, they can cause people to lose muscle control and fall to the ground.

“I accept you didn't use them, and you got them on the internet, but these items could fall into the wrong hands.”

Prosecutor Chris McKenna told the court that police had gone to Traynor's home with a search warrant in relation to another matter.

The undisguised stun gun was found in a bag in a large cupboard, and at this point the search was halted and a new search warrant for weapons was obtained.

Mr McKenna said that the items were bought on the internet and one of them – the stun gun disguised as a key fob – cost £9.

He added: “When interviewed by police Mr Traynor described himself as a hoarder. His partner said he often bought stuff online and she had to cancel one of his accounts.”

Traynor has a previous conviction for supplying amphetamine.

The court heard that the minimum sentence for anyone found with disguised stun guns is five years unless they can prove exceptional circumstances.

Defence QC Murray Macara said: “These devices which are described as non-lethal self defence devices are widely available on the internet and can be bought for as little as five dollars.

“There is no obvious warning saying that in the UK there is a mandatory five year sentence.

“In this case there is no evidence they were ever used as weapons.

“Mr Traynor said he went online and purchased random items which he described as gadgets. He expressed to me ignorance of the law. His intention was not sinister in obtaining these items; it was rather obsessive as a hoarder. He has no previous convictions for violence.

“He had eight stun guns – seven of which were disguised. This was stupid rather than criminal.”