Man who bought stun guns over the internet is jailed for five years

During questioning, Iqbal Hussain claimed he ordered his stash of weapons, which also included CS spray, to display in his shed.

And when police searched his home in Whitehead Road, Birmingham, they found more weapons, including knuckledusters, police-style batons and a stun gun disguised as a torch.

Hussain, aged 29, was jailed for five years and five months at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting importing illegal weapons.

Hussain was identified as a threat after National Crime Agency officers intercepted a package at an international mail centre in Coventry on its way to his home.

A cover note claimed that it contained 20 mini LED torches, but in reality it held 15 CS sprays and 10 electronic stun gun devices.

West Midlands Police were contacted and immediately after the package was delivered officers swooped, seized the items and arrested the 29-year-old.

Just over a week later a second parcel, sent from Singapore, was intercepted by Border Force officers in Langley, near Heathrow. Again it was addressed to Hussain and contained five more CS sprays.

When Hussain answered bail on March 26, a further search of an outbuilding at his address found more weapons including a number of knuckle dusters, police style batons and a stun torch. All the weapons had been imported from China.

Hussain initially denied ordering the products, but later changed his story and claimed he bought them to display in his shed.

Detective Constable Paul Smith said after the sentence that all the items that Hussain had imported were capable of inflicting serious injury against others.

"He had a selection of prohibited weapons at his home and will rightly spend a lengthy amount of time behind bars," he said.

"Ordering things like this from the internet is illegal and unacceptable."

Mike Butler, a senior officer with the Border Force at Coventry, added: "Border Force is the first line of defence in protecting the UK from serious and organised crime.

"The skill and experience of our officers helps keep drugs, offensive weapons and other illegal goods out of the country and off our streets."