A violent thug who boarded a bus with a stun gun clearly visible in his waistband has been jailed for five years.
Terry Connell was handed the mandatory minimum five year prison term for having a disguised stun gun.
Connell's weapon was disguised as a torch and the stun gun fell within a category of disguised weapon which carries a five year prison term.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that Connell was spotted with the stun gun on a bus in the city and was later found with it at the hostel where he was staying.
Connell, who has a previous conviction for assault with a weapon, also admitted attacking his friends and spitting at a police officer in separate incidents.
A jury found the 32-year-old guilty of being in possession of the firearm at Transform, Soapwork Lane, and on Victoria Road in Dundee on 9 February last year.
Solicitor Paul Parker-Smith, defending, asked the court to exercise its limited discretion because the weapon was not lethal and Connell had never been in prison before.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: "The bottom line here is that Mr Connell was in possession of a stun gun disguised as a torch on a public bus and has previous convictions that include an assault with a weapon."
Connell, from Dundee, also pled guilty to assaulting three people and spitting at PC Siobhan Dunn while acting in an aggressive manner and hurling offensive remarks at officers.
The court was told Connell attacked two of his friends after he went to a house in Douglas Road looking for someone in the early hours of March 26 last year.
Connell struck Andrew Harvey on the hand before repeatedly striking Bridget Divin on the head and body. Both suffered minor injuries.
Two days after later, Connell was seen walking on Alloway Terrace by his friend Andrew Adamson, but the meeting turned violent when drunk Connell refused to walk together.
Fiscal depute Marie Irvine told the court: "The accused walked up and instantly began to strike the complainer to the head. After receiving multiple blows, he fell to the ground and the accused repeatedly punched him.
"A neighbour contacted the police and continued to watch the accused and the complainer."
Mr Adamson - who had his bank card and mobile phone stolen by Connell - was treated for a one centimetre cut to his hairline, and had the injury glued by medics.
Connell was traced at the Cyrenians hostel on Brewery Lane later the same day and when he was arrested he refused to drop items that were in his clenched fist.
Connell was restrained on the ground and spat in the direction of the female officer.
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