Drug dealer stopped by police in Harborough had a powerful Taser gun 'fully charged up and ready to go'

A drug dealer stopped by police in Market Harborough had a powerful Taser gun fully charged up when his house was searched, a court heard.

Tomas Burnham, 26, was caught red-handed with 30 ounces of cannabis in his car boot after he was stop-checked by officers in Stuart Road, off Western Avenue, Market Harborough.

Police went on to search the property Burnham was staying at in Packe Terrace, Main Street, Great Glen.

They seized another four and-a-half ounces of cannabis and a set of scales on April 25 last year, Leicester Crown Court was told.

James Varley, prosecuting, said: "Officers also recovered a Taser, a proper stun gun with copper wires and three cartridges.

“It was a ranged weapon to be used at distance, that also worked without cartridges on direct contact.

“It was like a police Taser, loaded, charged and ready to go.

"There was a stab vest and a knife recovered, although those two items don't form part of the charges.”

He added: "There was also a friction lock baton, that was confiscated and he was cautioned in relation to that.

"He was a drug supplier, dealing in half and one ounce deals, who had weapons and protective gear."

Cannabis seized by police had a total street value of about £1,600.

Burnham, who later moved to Buckthorn Way, Great Glen, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition - three cartridges.

"It paints a sinister picture," said Mr Varley.

Errol Ballentyne, defending, told the court: "The stun gun was kept indoors and he didn't have it with him when he was stopped in possession of cannabis.

"He had it because where he was staying at a place which had the windows boarded up.

"He'd left home, fallen out with his family and was living in the best place he could find at the time, in accommodation that was insecure.

"He had those items to protect himself indoors and hadn't taken them out of the house, they weren't to be used as an adjunct to drug dealing.”

He added: "The cannabis that was found, he'd purchased to enable him to pay for his own habit at that time.

"There was a circle of friends he was selling it to, when he was going through a difficult time.

"A lot has changed in the year since then and there's no suggestion of further offences.”

Burnham was handed an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also told to do 140 hours unpaid work and pay £450 costs.