Joiner who Tasered his girlfriend to get her out of bed after a night of drinking is jailed for 22 months
- Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his girlfriend of seven years Stephanie Paton, 37
A joiner who tasered his partner to get her out of bed following a night of drinking together has been jailed for 22 months.
Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his girlfriend of seven years Stephanie Paton, also 37, with an electric stun gun as she lay in bed at his home in Raploch, Stirling.
Donald, who had woken up earlier, had ‘insisted’ that his girlfriend get up too, Stirling Sherrif Court heard, as he told her ‘come on, get up’.
When Ms Paton asked for ‘five minutes’ longer in bed as she was feeling ‘rough’, Donald threatened her, telling her: ‘Get up or I’ll taster ye.’
She fell back asleep only to be woken up to a Taser being used on her leg, causing her severe pain.
Joiner Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his girlfriend of seven years Stephanie Paton, also 37, with a taser when she laid in bed
Ms Paton, a personal care assistant, reported the incident to the police the following month
Prosecutor Laurelle Johnstone said: ‘A short time later, as Paton was falling back asleep, the accused took a Taser device and activated it against her leg, causing her severe pain and thereafter reddening to her right thigh.’
The court heard that an 11-year-old girl who had been there had seen what Donald was doing and filmed the incident on her mobile phone.
The brief footage was shown in court. It showed Donald ‘clicking’ the taser against his girlfriend and laughing on the incident that took place on February 19.
Ms Paton, a personal care assistant, reported the incident to the police the following month.
Donald was arrested in his car in Bannockburn, Stirling, on March 30 after police officers were shown the video and obtained a warrant to search his home.
The taser, along with a pack of taser cartridges, a taser charging plug and cables, as well as a knife in a black cover were found in the back of a vehicle.
Donald of Ferguson Street, Raploch, appeared for sentencing yesterday via video link from Low Moss prison, having pleaded guilty last month.
He was charged with possessing a Taster, assaulting Ms Paton and possessing a knife.
Defence solicitor Fraser McCready said: ‘I’ve asked him why he bought the Taser. He can’t really provide an explanation. He certainly bought it online and used it as a joke. But a joke is not a defence to a charge of assault.’
Imposing the 22 month jail term, Sheriff Keith O’Mahony said Donald had a record which includes domestically-aggravated matters.
He said: ‘These offences are possession of a Taser, assault with that Taser to injury, and possession of a knife.
‘In my view there is no alternative to a custodial disposal.’
Donald showed no emotion as the sentence was passed.
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