Stun gun defendant sentenced

North Wales Police introduced the taser gun a year ago

A man - who became the first in Flintshire to be shot with an electronic stun gun - has been sentenced by magistrates.

Carl Andrew Jones, 38, who had been threatening to kill himself, admitted possessing a knife and a public order offence.

He was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work under a community punishment order.

Flintshire magistrates heard how the stun gun was used to bring to an end a stand-off between police and Jones.

Jones had been threatening to kill himself and was brandishing a knife late at night in April.

Police officers were concerned for his safety - and that of others - and an armed response police vehicle was called to the scene.

Jones was repeatedly told to calm down and put the knife down and in the end he was shot with the stun gun, putting 50,000 volts of electricity through him.

He immediately fell and the knife was seized and he was arrested, said John Wylde, prosecuting.

The court was told that it was the first time that the Tazer stun gun had been used in the county.

Apologised

Jones, from Garden City, who had been depressed and extremely drunk at the time, felt that he could not go on and if he could get himself arrested then he hoped he would get help.

Mr Wylde said that at no stage did the defendant attempt to injure anyone, apart from himself.

Defending solicitor Steven Alis said that Jones suffered from severe depression, had rung his mother late at night when he was agitated and emotional, and he told her that if he got himself arrested then he would get the help he needed and go into rehab.

He had drunk a large amount of alcohol and he had decided to kill himself.

While he had no wounds, there were marks left on his skin from the knife.

He had been taken to hospital after his arrest and had apologised to the police for the bother he had caused.

Mr Alis said Jones now drank far less, was more settled, and was due to start a new job.

He was also placed on 18 months rehabilitation and ordered to pay £55 costs.