A man from East Lothian has been jailed for five years after intimidating youths at a children's skatepark.
As the Daily Record reports, Jamie Garrity pulled out a taser, disguised as a torch at a park in Prestonpans, East Lothian, in June 2020. Prosecutors told the High Court in Edinburgh that the 35-year-old fired the device 'between 20 to 30 times'.
Garrity then went on to march towards a 14-year-old boy with the nine-inch weapon. As the young boy heard a 'distinctive crackling noise', he instantly recognised it as the sound of the taser being discharged.
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Garrity was 'showing off', the prosecutors told the court and was trying to scare the teenager, who immediately called his father. When his dad arrived at the park, he saw the accused talking to a female and heard the taser being discharged on multiple occasions.
Officers rushed to the scene and later recovered the taser, which had been thrown away into a set of bushes. On investigation, the device was found to be in working order, with an audible and visible display of sparks occurring between electrodes when discharged. It was later found that Garrity's DNA was also discovered on the gun.
Garrity, who was also convicted of making a homophobic remark to a police officer, was slapped with the five-year sentence today.
Taser guns are prohibited firearms in Scotland and a senior prosecutor has warned that anybody in the possession of a stun gun runs the risk of a lengthy prison sentence.
Ruth McQuaid, Procurator Fiscal for High Court, welcomed the sentence and said it should send out a strong public message over the use of stun guns disguised as everyday items.
She said: “It’s important that people who shop online for these items realise that, under the law, they are regarded as prohibited firearms. They are dangerous and carry a severe risk of serious injury if discharged in public places.
“This sentence reflects the gravity of the offence, and we would urge people to be aware of the legal implications of buying them. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will continue to apply the law in this area to ensure that communities are properly safeguarded and that individuals are kept free from potential harm.”
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