A 35-year-old man who armed himself with a stun gun and an imitation pistol to deter “strange” people outside his Dudley home has been jailed for 33 months.

Banaris Ali, of Fir Street, Dudley, who had been targeted in the past by raiders, maintained he had the banned weapons for protection because he felt the group sitting near his home gave him a “bad feeling”.

Ali was arrested after a concerned and frightened neighbour contacted police to report that the car valeter had been seen carrying a gun, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday (March 10).

Judge James Burbidge QC told Ali: “For some reason, that is not entirely clear you were concerned about people keeping an eye on your premises.”

But he then armed himself with the stun gun which was disguised as a mobile telephone and he also had a BB gun which resembled a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

The judge said the stun gun was capable of being utilised, adding: “The pistol was not lethal but it can frighten and that was clearly your intention.”

Ali admitted being in possession of the stun gun – a prohibited weapon – the imitation firearm, possessing a small amount of cannabis and driving with excess alcohol and without insurance.

Richard Partridge, defending, said Ali claimed he had not known the stun gun was a prohibited weapon having decided to keep it after finding it in the area.

“There is no suggestion it was ever used,” he added. “There had been a number of break-ins at his flat and that was the reason for his paranoia and sense of nervousness.”

He said Ali had the BB gun but that had not been brandished and it was used to scare off the individuals who had been outside his property.

Mr Partridge said: “He is not a man of violence with a propensity to use weapons.”

Ali who was further disqualified from driving for three years having clocked up his third conviction for drink driving.