A builder repeatedly discharged a stun gun while "showing off" to friends at a bus stop, a court has heard.
Simon Jack Morris, 27, handed the weapon – which was disguised as a torch – around the group, and shot one of his friends in the leg with the device. He later tried to hide the stun gun in a tree.
Stephen Rees, prosecuting at Swansea Crown Court, said that on the evening of April 2 this year the manager of the Jobcentre in Neath town centre was locking up the premises when he heard a series of "loud cracking sounds".
Looking across the road he saw a group of half a dozen people in one of the bus shelters, one of whom was Morris.
The court heard the defendant was seen passing a black object around the group and that the device was making cracking sounds and had a light coming from one end.
Morris was seen to discharge the item – a stun gun disguised as a torch – a number of times, including on one occasion into the leg of one of his friends.
Police were called and the defendant initially tried to hide the stun gun in a nearby tree before claiming it belonged to somebody else. When searched Morris was found to be in possession of small quantities of cannabis and Valium.
Morris, who has a 'care of' address of Lime Grove, Cimla, Neath, admitted possession of a stun gun and possession of the Class B and C drugs. The court heard he has previous convictions for seven offences including burglary and possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. He is currently subject to a community order following a conviction for driving without due care and attention and damaging another vehicle in Alltwen near Pontardawe.
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Anthony O'Connell, for Morris, said his client was currently working on a construction project at Leicester University having previous worked on the building of Swansea University's new Bay Campus.
The advocate said the defendant works away from Monday to Friday, returning to Wales at the weekends to complete the unpaid work element of his community order.
Recorder Christopher Clee QC told Morris that he knew now, if he had not known at the time, that a stun gun was classed as a firearm and possessing one was a serous matter.
He said he thought the defendant had been "showing off" with the device – probably while under the influence of alcohol – and "whilst serious this behaviour is best described as stupid".
Morris was made the subject of a 12-month community order and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course.
