A DUNFERMLINE security guard caught trying to import a stun gun over the internet has been ordered to do unpaid work.

Steven Seath, 38, of Fod Street, ordered the weapon from China but it was seized by Border Force.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, he had previously admitted that on September 9, at his home address, he was concerned in an attempted evasion of an importation prohibition order when he ordered and imported an extendable stun gun from China.

At an earlier appearance, the court heard that Seath had been employed as a security guard at that time.

Police received information about the stun gun being ordered and it was seized by Border Force officers.

It was addressed to Seath. When questioned by police, Seath said: “I was mucking about on a website to see what I could get.”

Solicitor James Moncrieff conceded the attempted purchase had been a "stupid" thing for his client to do and had resulted in a big financial impact in terms of lost income.

"He obviously has been very stupid in terms of this offence," he said. "He has placed himself in a difficult position.

"He didn't think the item was a stun gun. The suggestion was he thought it worked as a cattle prod rather than a stun gun. He accepts it could be used for a function similar to what a stun gun does.

"That was not his intention for what he was going to use the device for."

Sheriff Alastair Brown placed Seath on a community payback order requiring him to do 120 hours of unpaid work within six months.

"You can buy all sorts of stuff online – the fact that you can buy it online doesn't mean it is legal to have it and it doesn't mean it is legal to get it sent to you in the UK from some foreign jurisdiction.

"Stun guns are firearms, technically, and for items very similar to this, you can find yourself subject to a minimum five-year prison sentence.

"You do not want weapons of any kind. You don't need them, and if you buy weapons of any sort or anything that has a function as a weapon online and get them sent to you in the UK and in Halbeath, you will find yourself back in the dock of the court and find yourself going to Perth Prison.

"Do not order this kind of thing ever again."