Actor gets two years after stun gun 'sting'

ronbyrne2005 · 12-12-2008 01:50PM #1

Friday December 12 2008

An actor who imported 10 stun guns to see "if there would be a market for them here" has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Robert Scales (37) of Waterloo road, Dublin 4, said he did not know the weapons were illegal here when he imported them from Thailand and that he intended to sell them to taxi drivers.

He pleaded guilty to possession of firearms at his home on November 14, 2007.

The court heard that a customs and excise officer noticed a suspicious package at a sorting office addressed to Scales. A operation was set up where a customs officer, dressed as a postman, delivered the box to Scales, who claimed ownership.

A short time later gardai entered the house and seized the guns.

Defence counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert, said his client was "a highly educated and intelligent man" who has appeared in several films, such as 'King Arthur' and 'Braveheart'.

Judge Katherine Delahunt refused a application to suspend some of the sentence and said if it was not for the mitigation plea, the term would have been four years.

Two years for this seems a bit severe condsidering what sentences murderers and rapists get. Good to see the police are getting the real criminals.

IvySlayer · 12-12-2008 01:52PM

Shocking :pac:

oztots · 12-12-2008 01:55PM

Silly plonker.

It is a bit severe but you'd think he would have brought 1 or 2 in. Not 10, thats just making sure you'll get done for it.

Should have got the ferry to england, down to france across to germany, and then you can buy pretty much anything to hurt people bar guns.

Fratton Fred · 12-12-2008 01:55PM

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Defence counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert, said his client was "a highly educated and intelligent man" who has appeared in several films, such as 'King Arthur' and 'Braveheart'.

Yes yes yes, but did he appear in the short Shapespearian tragedy otherwise known as "The Scottish Play"

Dragan · 12-12-2008 01:56PM

A highly educated man who failed to check if the rather obviously iffy items he was bringing into the country were legal or not.

Yeah, real ****ing clever.

chin_grin · 12-12-2008 01:56PM

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Friday December 12 2008

An actor who imported 10 stun guns to see "if there would be a market for them here" has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Robert Scales (37) of Waterloo road, Dublin 4, said he did not know the weapons were illegal here when he imported them from Thailand and that he intended to sell them to taxi drivers.

He pleaded guilty to possession of firearms at his home on November 14, 2007.

The court heard that a customs and excise officer noticed a suspicious package at a sorting office addressed to Scales. A operation was set up where a customs officer, dressed as a postman, delivered the box to Scales, who claimed ownership.

A short time later gardai entered the house and seized the guns.

Defence counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert, said his client was "a highly educated and intelligent man" who has appeared in several films, such as 'King Arthur' and 'Braveheart'.

Judge Katherine Delahunt refused a application to suspend some of the sentence and said if it was not for the mitigation plea, the term would have been four years.

Two years for this seems a bit severe condsidering what sentences murderers and rapists get. Good to see the police are getting the real criminals.

Jaysus the sh!t actors go through to learn how to 'method-act'. Just so he can squeal just right......."reeeeeeeeeeeeee reeeeeeeeeeee".

Morlar · 12-12-2008 01:59PM

Hilarious that on the same day that guy got 2 years for importing stun guns (to sell to taxi drivers for protection) this guy here got a suspended sentence :

http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2008/1211/ireland/mhsnaukfaukf/

A youth who was found guilty of taking part in a violent mugging has been given a six-month suspended sentence by Judge Bryan Smyth at the Dublin Children’s Court.

&

This one got 5 months for a different offence :

http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2008/1211/ireland/mhsnaukfcwsn/

A youth convicted of attacking a garda whom he tried to push him off a third-floor flat complex balcony has been given a five-months detention sentence.

crustyjuggler · 12-12-2008 02:00PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Yes yes yes, but did he appear in the short Shapespearian tragedy otherwise known as "The Scottish Play"

Einstein · 12-12-2008 02:03PM

i'd swear some judges found their qualifications in a lucky bag...

Nodin · 12-12-2008 02:14PM

I really do wonder where they fu.cken get them from betimes (Not the stun guns).

Ross_Mahon · 12-12-2008 02:17PM

Einstein wrote: »

i'd swear some judges found their qualifications in a lucky bag...

Flip a coin job

The_Minister · 12-12-2008 02:23PM

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Two years for this seems a bit severe condsidering what sentences murderers and rapists get.

Murder carries a mandatory life sentence which is normally about 14 years.
Manslaughter carries a lesser sentence.
So murderers don't, by and large, get two years.

And, btw, those weapons can kill, so the Gardaí just jailed someone for illegally importing semi-lethal weapons.
He is a real criminal.

Roadend · 12-12-2008 02:28PM

I bet he was stunned with the sentance

12-12-2008 02:29PM

Who is he?

4zn76tysfajdxp · 12-12-2008 02:31PM

With weapons like that, I'm surprised he didn't go down for battery as well.

IvySlayer · 12-12-2008 02:32PM

I see this debate has sparked some puns

Terry · 12-12-2008 02:35PM

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Friday December 12 2008

An actor who imported 10 stun guns to see "if there would be a market for them here" has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Robert Scales (37) of Waterloo road, Dublin 4, said he did not know the weapons were illegal here when he imported them from Thailand and that he intended to sell them to taxi drivers.

He pleaded guilty to possession of firearms at his home on November 14, 2007.

The court heard that a customs and excise officer noticed a suspicious package at a sorting office addressed to Scales. A operation was set up where a customs officer, dressed as a postman, delivered the box to Scales, who claimed ownership.

A short time later gardai entered the house and seized the guns.

Defence counsel, Mr Pieter Le Vert, said his client was "a highly educated and intelligent man" who has appeared in several films, such as 'King Arthur' and 'Braveheart'.

Judge Katherine Delahunt refused a application to suspend some of the sentence and said if it was not for the mitigation plea, the term would have been four years.

Two years for this seems a bit severe condsidering what sentences murderers and rapists get. Good to see the police are getting the real criminals.

pfft. Amatuer.

JJJJNR · 12-12-2008 02:36PM

He gave an electric performance.

oztots · 12-12-2008 02:39PM

The_Minister wrote: »

Murder carries a mandatory life sentence which is normally about 14 years.
Manslaughter carries a lesser sentence.
So murderers don't, by and large, get two years.

And, btw, those weapons can kill, so the Gardaí just jailed someone for illegally importing semi-lethal weapons.
He is a real criminal.

So its horribel and unthinkable to import semi lethal weapons and promises jailtime. But trying to assaulting and trying to kill a garda gets you? A six month suspended sentence?

Dyr · 12-12-2008 02:43PM

the customs officer noticed a "suspicious" package? that sounds like a load of bollix, unless it said "tazers x20" on it or something

Nodin · 12-12-2008 02:54PM

Bambi wrote: »

the customs officer noticed a "suspicious" package? that sounds like a load of bollix, unless it said "tazers x20" on it or something

Seeing as he seems to have overlooked the fact they were illegal, its quite probable it did. Pointing to him overlooking the fact they were illegal, is that he had them sent to his own address. Two years is a harsh price to pay for stupidity, it must be said.

kmick · 12-12-2008 03:03PM

The current legislation seems to impose very scary charges and subsequent imprisonment for stun guns. I mean watt is that about?

seamus · 12-12-2008 03:11PM

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Two years for this seems a bit severe condsidering what sentences murderers and rapists get. Good to see the police are getting the real criminals.

I can't say that I would be overly happy knowing that there were 10 taxi drivers going around with stun guns under their seats.

His blatant stupidity could have put a lot more people in danger.

Terry · 12-12-2008 03:14PM

seamus wrote: »

I can't say that I would be overly happy knowing that there were 10 taxi drivers going around with stun guns under their seats.

His blatant stupidity could have put a lot more people in danger.

Oh sweet Jesus.
That's just going to kick them off.

It wasn't me! · 12-12-2008 03:16PM

It's a firearm, classed as a prohibited weapon. I'm absolutely delighted to see someone get rode for possession of an unlicensed firearm. It's an extremely positive sentence and a step forward in dealing with violent crime, which is a refreshing break from the legislative diahorrea usually used to spray the area of firearms and violent crime. More harsh sentences for offences, less stupid legislation please.

Nehaxak · 12-12-2008 03:18PM

seamus wrote: »

I can't say that I would be overly happy knowing that there were 10 taxi drivers going around with stun guns under their seats.

His blatant stupidity could have put a lot more people in danger.

Would make it easier though for those of them with an aul fella hiding in the back, just jump up, tazer the girl, sure it'd be all over and done with before she came around and knew what was going on.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 12-12-2008 03:19PM

Think a suspended sentence would have been in order here.

seamus · 12-12-2008 03:24PM

Terry wrote: »

Oh sweet Jesus.
That's just going to kick them off.

Well, not that taxi drivers are particularly dangerous, but that you might get some guy who thinks it's appropriate to whip it out when there's a disagreement about a fare or who'll fire it prematurely if a passenger is getting a little rowdy.

There's a misconception that you just get a little shock to calm you down and then it's all good.

nobodythere · 12-12-2008 03:25PM

I'm stunned....

Edit: Wait it's been done.

On a more serious note judge's generally seem to pull sentences out of their arse. Remember that guy a few months ago who got a 6 month sentence for posession of ONE ecstacy pill. Talk about inconsistency...

Nodin · 12-12-2008 03:30PM

It wasn't me! wrote: »

It's a firearm, classed as a prohibited weapon. I'm absolutely delighted to see someone get rode for possession of an unlicensed firearm.

....regardless of the fact he seems to be more of a gobshyte than anything else. Presumably the next time some eejit commits a minor traffic offence, we should have him castrated, to send a message to hit and run drivers.

It wasn't me! · 12-12-2008 03:35PM

Nodin wrote: »

....regardless of the fact he seems to be more of a gobshyte than anything else. Presumably the next time some eejit commits a minor traffic offence, we should have him castrated, to send a message to hit and run drivers.

Um, no, you should sentence him in line with his offence. It doesn't matter how thick he was, he imported firearms, and should be sentenced in line with that offence. The penalties laid down in the firearms act provide for far, far stricter sentencing than that as well, so he got off fairly lightly. His stupidity was clearly already a mitigating factor.

If I hit someone in a car, and am completely ignorant of my obligations to stay around, and go home, and say I didn't know it was illegal, I'm still a gobshíte, but you'd be hard pressed to find someone who didn't agree I should be very harshly sentenced as a result. Ignorance is never a defence in law.

Actor gets two years after stun gun 'sting'

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