Stun gun smuggler facing jail after boasting of crime on Facebook

Henry Morton bought the weapon in Bulgaria

Published 30th Jun 2016

A Paisley man was caught smuggling stun guns through Glasgow Airport after posting footage on social media outlining his plan.

Father-of-four Henry Morton now faces a mandatory five year jail sentence for possessing the weapons which were disguised as mobile phones.

A judge was shown footage retrieved from his Facebook account, titled Henry's Funny Videos 2014, as Morton pled guilty to firearms offences at the High Court in Edinburgh.

In the self-shot video Morton identified himself and revealed he was at the Sunni Beach resort, in Bulgaria.

He said: "I just went to the supermarket today and I bought, as you can see, a nice iphone4s. How would you like to have one of these yourself?"

Morton then demonstrated the weapon, which can discharge about 5000 volts, on film, before saying: "You f--- with me and you will get tasered and that's the truth."

In further incriminating footage he was heard saying: "Got an iphone 4 but it's no, it's a shocker."

Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie said Morton has also posted on his Facebook page that he was in Bulgaria and was going to bring back stun guns to the UK to sell for pounds 300 each.

Morton (37) of St James Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, was later stopped going through the "nothing to declare" channel at customs at Glasgow airport by border force officers.

He was detained and his baggage was searched and two stun guns were found in a jumper. During an interview he claimed that he thought they were genuine iphones and said he intended to use them as music players.

Mr Ronnie said: "The accused accepted he knew it was illegal to bring stun guns into the UK, having seen signs at Glasgow airport."

After he was charged over the importation he replied: "Well, where's the evidence."

Restaurant worker Morton admitted possessing without authority a disguised firearm and possessing two stun guns disguised as mobile phones at the airport on September 16 in 2014.

Defence counsel Laura Reilly told the judge, Lord Ericht, that she was intending to argue that there were exceptional circumstances in the case which would justify not imposing the minimum five-year prison term set down in law.

She said Morton had never previously served a jail sentence and a background report would be required ahead of sentencing.

She said he had a criminal record but added "most of it is fairly minor". She argued that Morton should be allowed to remain on bail.

But Lord Ericht refused to continue Morton's bail and said: "It is a serious offence with a serious custodial sentence.

The judge said further thought would have to be given to whether the mandatory prison term is imposed on Morton.