Customer took cattle prod into Norwich lap dancing club

Andrew Sedgwick, 54, was arrested after staff at Sugar and Spice in Prince of Wales Road called police when the taser-style electric weapon was discovered. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard it had been handed in to security staff by another customer, who found it on a seat in the early hours of May 2.

Asif Akram, prosecuting, said that self-employed painter and decorator Sedgwick had approached staff members before police arrived saying he had lost his “self-defence device”. 

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“When interviewed by police he said he had been carrying it for self-defence because he had been attacked before, close to his home address,” he added.

Cattle prods which deliver an electric shock are designed for farmers herding cattle (Image: YouTube)

“He said he had bought it on eBay and did not realise it was illegal. Having lost it he feared it would fall into the wrong hands.”

Sedgwick, of Thorpe Road in Norwich, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse.

Cattle prods deliver an electric shock and are designed to be used by farmers for herding and controlling animals. 

Buying or having them for this use is legal but possession or use of them as a weapon is illegal. 

This differs from other self-defence weapons such as pepper spray and stun guns which are totally prohibited. 

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Emma Lloyd, mitigating, said: “He has been open and honest about this from the start including in his interview with the police. 

“He bought this item online and did not fully understand that it was illegal to have in public. He did not brandish or use it in any way.” 

Magistrates sentenced Sedgwick to a 12 month community order with requirements to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. 

He was also ordered to pay costs of £199.