A man was discovered to have an illegal stun gun when police searched his home, a court heard.

Charlie Emmerson, 22, was found in possession of the prohibited weapon, which was spotted lying in an open safe at his address, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Isobel Ascherson, prosecuting, said the gun was not disguised in any way, as sometimes stun guns were disguised as items such as mobile phones or torches.

If it had been a disguised weapon, the judge warned Emmerson that it could have attracted a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

Emmerson, of Rosedale Gardens, Belton, admitted possession of a prohibited weapon in September last year.

He also admitted handling stolen goods, as two stolen motocross bikes worth about £8,000 were seized from a lock-up garage he rented,

Emmerson was also found guilty following a trial of a charge of dangerous driving in Great Yarmouth, after police saw him making a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and speeding in a 30mph zone in Great Yarmouth on September 7 last year.

Ms Ascherson said that after being found guilty of the driving offence, Emmerson had failed to turn up for his sentencing hearing at the crown court but when arrested had also entered pleas to the weapon and handling charges.

Jailing him for a total of two years three months, Recorder Guy Ayers said that if the stun gun had been a disguised weapon he would be looking at a starting point of a five year sentence.

He warned him: 'Possession of a stun gun is very serious.'

He also imposed a driving ban for the dangerous driving, which will mean Emmerson will face a 12-month ban on his release from jail,

Peter Spary, for Emmerson, said the stun gun was not his but he was looking after it for a friend: ''He states he was holding it for a friend. It was not used or brandished.'

He added: 'He is a young man who has made a number of silly mistakes and this is the final straw for him to change.'

Mr Spary said: 'He is very remorseful for what he has done.'