Armstrong , 26 , pleaded guilty of trying to bring a stun gun , a baton and knuckle dusters back into the UK from Cyprus in his luggage ( file picture ) A holidaymaker who jetted off to Cyprus to celebrate his new job was sacked before starting after returning with a stun gun , baton and knuckle duster in his luggage . Paul Armstrong , 26 , of Sunderland , flew to Cyprus with four friends before beginning his new role as an IT project manager . But after a spending spree on the trip , Armstrong was stopped at the airport with the stun gun disguised as a torch , extendable baton and knuckle duster stuffed in his luggage . A court heard how the stun gun was capable of administering an electrical discharge which would cause a victim to 'startle and repel ' . Armstrong pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and two offensive weapons and lost his job before he even started it . Judge John Milford QC told Newcastle Crown Court : 'The general public need to be warned about the gravity of bringing home such souvenirs . 'What he did was foolish . It must be realised that the court takes very seriously the bringing into this country of those items . ' A stun gun is , within the legislation of this country , a firearm . It is an extremely serious offence to possess one . 'It is highly undesirable that they should be in circulation in this country . ' The 26-year-old was sentenced to eight months imprisonment , suspended for two years , with £2,000 costs at Newcastle Crown Court ( pictured ) The judge said a prison sentence was not necessary in Armstrong 's case as there was no suggestion he would use the weapons , had never been in trouble before and had recently found employment . Judge Milford added : 'He had an extremely good job lined up . As a consequence of these proceedings , which he had to reveal to his perspective employers , he lost that job . ' As such , Armstrong was sentenced to eight months imprisonment , suspended for two years , with £2,000 costs . Glen Gatland , defending , said ; 'He has never been in trouble with the police and is of previous good character . 'He went on holiday to Cyprus with four friends ( in the summer of 2013 ) who had been to primary school together . 'The reason he went was because he had been offered a job as IT project manager with retail branches in London and Zurich . 'He would have been moving away and not able to see his friends . ' The court heard three of the friends who had been on the holiday with Armstrong received warnings after batons and knuckle dusters were found in their luggage . Mr Gatland said the weapons were bought from a 'corner shop ' in Cyprus and Armstrong had been given the knuckle duster free with his other purchases .
Paul Armstrong flew to Cyprus to celebrate new job as IT project manager . Was stopped at airport with stun gun , baton and knuckle duster in his bag . Pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and lost his job before starting it . 26-year-old was sentenced to two years in jail , suspended for eight months .