Joiner who Tasered his girlfriend to get her out of bed after a night of drinking is jailed for 22 months
The carpenter who tasered his girlfriend to get her out of bed after a night of drinking gets a 22-month prison sentence
- Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his seven-year-old girlfriend Stephanie Paton, 37
A furniture maker who tasered his partner to get her out of bed after a night of drinking together has been sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his seven-year-old girlfriend Stephanie Paton, also 37, with an electric stun gun while she was in bed at his home in Raploch, Stirling.
Donald, who had woken up earlier, had ‘insisted’ his girlfriend to get up too, Stirling Sherrif Court heard, telling her ‘come on, get up’.
When Mrs. Paton asked for “five more minutes” in bed because she was feeling “rough,” Donald threatened her and told her, “Get up or I’ll taser you.”
She fell asleep again, only to be awakened by a Taser used on her leg, causing her severe pain.
Joiner Kenneth Donald, 37, shocked his seven-year-old girlfriend Stephanie Paton, also 37, with a taser as she lay in bed
Ms Paton, a personal care assistant, reported the incident to the police the following month
Prosecutor Laurelle Johnstone said: “A short time later, when Paton fell asleep again, the suspect took a Taser device and activated it against her leg, causing severe pain and then a redness on her right thigh.”
The court heard that an 11-year-old girl who had been there saw what Donald was doing and filmed the incident on her cell phone.
The short footage was shown in court. It showed Donald ‘clicking’ the taser on his girlfriend and laughing at the incident that happened on February 19.
Ms Paton, a personal care assistant, reported the incident to the police the following month.
Donald was arrested in his car in Bannockburn, Stirling, on March 30 after police officers were shown the video and obtained a warrant to search his home.
The taser was found in the back of a vehicle along with a pack of taser cartridges, a taser charging plug and cables, as well as a knife in a black case.
Donald of Ferguson Street, Raploch, appeared via videolink yesterday for his sentencing from Low Moss Prison after pleading guilty last month.
He was charged with possession of a Taser, assaulting Mrs. Paton and possession of a knife.
Attorney Fraser McCready said, “I asked him why he bought the Taser. He cannot give a real explanation. He must have bought it online and used it as a joke. But a joke is no defense against an accusation of assault.”
Sheriff Keith O’Mahony imposed the 22-month jail sentence, saying Donald had a criminal record that included domestic aggravated cases.
He said, “These offenses are possession of a Taser, assaulting with that Taser to injury, and possession of a knife.
“In my opinion, there is no alternative to pre-trial detention.”
Donald showed no emotion when the verdict was handed down.