Father tried stun gun on himself
A father who shot himself with a one million volt stun gun to test it out was likened to bungling cartoon character Homer Simpson – by his own lawyer.
Ricky Hodgkinson bought the illegal weapon from a friend for £100 for "self defence" – but promptly fired at his own chest to see if it worked.
The farce was revealed in court yesterday when the 26-year-old appeared charged with possession of a weapon. And in mitigation, Hodgkinson's own solicitor likened him to the intellectually-challenged Simpsons' star.
John Walker told Walsall magistrates his client had only used the gun on himself and was left disappointed when he felt little pain.
Police had searched him following a disturbance they were called to in Darlaston on January 9 shortly after midnight.
Mr Jason Cordon-Bowen, prosecuting, said: "The Taser gun was found on the defendant who was then arrested.
"The weapon was inspected by an expert in firearms who said it was a Taser gun which gives off a one million volt shock when activated using electrodes. It is used as a self defence weapon but it is prohibited.
"He told police he bought it for £100 from a friend. He said he was disappointed as he had tried it out on himself and was not in much pain at all. He felt hard done by and said he had not used the weapon on anyone but himself."
Defending him, Mr Walker told the court: "He is like the cartoon character Homer Simpson. It was a silly thing for him to do but he hasn't used it on anyone but himself.
"As he stands before you today he realises he has put himself in a serious situation by purchasing that weapon."
Hodgkinson, from Avon Close, Perton, near Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon for the discharge of toxic/liquid gas.
He will be sentenced on March 9.
Speaking after the case Hodgkinson, an unemployed father-of-one, said he shot himself after a drinking session with mates.
"I wanted to test it out to make sure it worked so I shot myself in the chest. I was told it discharged a million volts but I wasn't left in much pain at all," he said.
"I suppose I have to agree with my solicitor. I am a bit like Homer Simpson. It was a stupid thing to do really."
