Actor who imported stun guns jailed for two years

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 (aged 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.

Garda Sinead O'Connor told Mr Remy Farrell BL, 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 gardaí entered the house and seized the guns. Scales initially claimed he ordered them to give as presents to female relatives and friends. He later admitted he intended to sell them for money to "taxi drivers and people like that."

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. He said he is an accomplished computer technician and has a fiancé in Thailand.

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