A Workington dad who bought a £2 taser device from the internet was landed with a criminal conviction and a court bill for nearly £400.

Magistrates sitting at the town’s court heard how 39-year William McKenzie got into trouble after police conducted a drugs search of his house at Windsor Road, Workington, on May 22, and discovered a locked safe in a bedroom.

When it was opened, inside they found a small amount of cannabis, and so officers cautioned the defendant.

Also found in the safe was a black taser, said Pamela Fee, prosecuting. The defendant admitted a charge of possessing the device illegally.

Miss Fee said the defendant told police that he had bought the device – which incorporated a torch – for £2 from a website, not appreciating that it might be dangerous.

“He said he kept hold of it because he keeps hold of things.

“He said that he’d bought it because it looked interesting but he would never have used it.” When police tested the device, they found it was fully functional, added the prosecutor.

It was suggested that the tester was capable of discharging 680,000 volts.

But John Cooper, for McKenzie, was sceptical.

He told magistrates: “It’s a £2 taser off the internet.

“I’d be surprised if it's of sufficient quality to cause significant harm.

“One of the police officers said it would give you a tickle. It was sent in the post from the website and there was nothing on that website to indicate that he was not supposed to have it. He kept it in safe.”

When police opened the safe and found the taser, the defendant had immediately confirmed that it belonged to him, said Mr Cooper.

He said in an average kitchen you could find more dangerous implements which could actually kill people, including knives. Yet the defendant, because he had children living in the house, kept his non-lethal taser locked securely in a safe.

Magistrates recognised the taser was a low-value item and unlikely to be a lethal weapon. “It was securely in a locked safe, and there was no apparent intention to use this item,” said presiding magistrate Jenny Wilkinson.

Magistrates imposed a £276 fine, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. Leaving the dock, McKenzie thanked them, saying: “Appreciate that.”