A MAGISTRATE has told a Warrnambool man his children were lucky to not find a taser hidden in the family home.
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Jeffrey Brewer, 40 ,of Baker Grove, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to possessing a prohibited weapon.
The court heard a police search of the accused's home on March 31 this year uncovered the weapon in a bedside table.
"A taser was found in a bedside table underneath some clothes," police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris said.
"He made no comment in relation to the questions put to him."
Brewer, representing himself in court, told magistrate Peter Mellas he found the semi-lethal weapon in an alleyway behind his home and had intended to hand it in to the police.
"I actually found the tas er in the back alley. I wanted to hand it in but I wanted to put it out of the way of the kids," Brewer said.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said their was no excuse for the delay, adding the taser could have led to an accident.
"Particularly with kids around the house . Any one of them could have found this," Mr Mellas said.
"The best thing to have done would have been to have handed it in."
The magistrate said Brewer had a criminal history and had set a bad example for his children.
"Looking at your previous history, anyone could look at this and draw conclusions."
Brewer was convicted and fined $475.