A former restaurateur has been jailed for five years after he was found with four stun guns at his home.

Peng Zhao kept the weapons in different rooms at his home in Newton Abbot because he was worried about being burgled.

He sent Skype messages to friends in China showing off the weapons, three of which were disguised as torches, Exeter Crown Court was told.

He was jailed for five years under Draconian firearms laws which impose mandatory sentences for possession of disguised weapons.

Zhao was caught because he was working as a taxi driver and offered one of the stun guns to a female colleague to use for her protection.

She refused and reported Zhao to the her boss, who sacked him and informed the local authority, who contacted the police.

Zhao, aged 39, of Aller Brake Road, Newton Abbot, admitted three offences of possessing stun guns which were disguised as torches, and possession of a stun gun and three taser cartridges.

David Bowen, prosecuting, said police searched Zhao’s home in June and found the four stun guns in different rooms of the house.

He said: ’The defendant was interviewed and indicated strongly he was unaware the items were illegal.’

Paul Dunkels, QC, mitigating, said Zhao was the lawful keeper of firearms and had a certificate for them but did not realise the stun guns were covered by the same legislation.

He said: ’He believed he would not get into trouble so long as he did not cause any trouble. He had a heightened fear of burglary. He has no convictions or any association with crime or criminals.

’He understands he has been absolutely stupid and what worries him is he has put his wife’s future and health in jeopardy.’

He said Zhao should not be subject to the mandatory sentence because there were exceptional circumstances, including his wife being pregnant.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, told him: ’You told the police you knew such weapons were illegal in China but you did not attempt to inquire if they were illegal in England.

’You had a shotgun certificate and two shotguns which indicates some knowledge of the firearms laws.

’It is said you had the stun guns in case of intrusion at your home but you offered one to a work colleague, which shows you were willing for them to leave your control.

’You had taken no steps to ensure they did not get into the wrong hands and therefore there was a risk to public safety. That is one of the reasons why parliament has decided these offences are so serious.’’