A Barrow man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison today (October 20) after police found drugs and a potentially dangerous weapon in his house.  

Kenneth Smith, 28, of St Vincent Street, was sentenced today at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A controlled drug (heroin), possession of a controlled drug (cannabis) and possession of a Section 5 firearm, at an earlier hearing. 

He was handed a prison sentence of four-and-a-half years.  

Smith was arrested after officers searched his home address on September 15 of this year and found a ‘taser torch’ and heroin potentially capable of making 141 individual street deals and subsequently £1,500.

They also seized a set of electronic scales which are often used by drug dealers to weigh out drugs, some tablets confirmed as Diazepam, and cannabis. 

The weapon is disguised as a torch but its primary function would be to discharge a voltage shock, as well as be used as a baton. 

PC John Renshaw, of the South Drugs Squad, said: “The ‘taser torch’ found at Smith’s property was a cheap imitation weapon, but that doesn’t mean it isn't dangerous. People may hear ‘firearm’ and think of guns, but that isn’t always the case. This type of taser is an illegal weapon that had the potential to cause considerable harm.  

“Similar weapons are advertised as being able to discharge nine million vaults, and due to their low quality of manufacture and lack of calibration in output, are extremely dangerous not only to the victim but also to the user.

 “I am pleased that we were able to seize this weapon and take the danger away from the communities of Barrow. We will also continue to make our streets safer by targeting those who deal drugs. Smith had an amount of heroin that could have been dealt to many people in the local area to the detriment of the user but also to the wider community.

“We will not tolerate this crime and will ensure that justice is served as it has been today.”