Patrick Joseph Kenrick, 34, of Jubilee Crescent, Wellingborough, was caught hiding in a cupboard with the weapon after fleeing the scene of a domestic dispute.

He pleaded guilty to possessing the weapon at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court on Monday and could face a lengthy jail sentence.

The case comes after a nationwide crackdown on gun crime and new laws to punish those caught with a weapon.

Chairman of the bench Paul Joy said: "We have given this matter a lot of thought and, having looked at the offence, we feel that we must consider a custodial sentence. It is that serious.

"The discharge is high voltage which can incapacitate. It can cause a lot of harm and risk."

Kenrick was caught with the stun gun on July 2 after police officers were called to a domestic incident at his home.

Officer went to the house but he had fled to a friend's home nearby. The officers tracked him down and found him hiding in a cupboard, clutching the weapon. He was also found with 1.8 grams of Subutex, a class C drug.

Stella Moses, prosecuting, said: "He was found hiding in a cupboard in another home with a black electrical device which looked like a Taser stun gun."

Defence solicitor John Whiston confirmed Kenrick had been involved in a domestic argument and had gone to a friend's house "to cool off the situation."

He took the weapon with him to use as a torch in the dark, Mr Whiston said. He added: "The police have confirmed it had a legitimate function for use as a torch. Certainly he wasn't in public when he was found with it.

"It is also not one of these things that shoots out a dart. It delivers an electrical charge at close range."

The case has been adjourned for sentencing on Monday at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court.