A man who brandished a taser weapon and threatened a van driver and his partner found himself at the receiving end of his own dangerous actions. Christopher Short, 47, engaged in a high-speed chase through an Aldi car park in Cardiff on July 8. The altercation escalated as Short shouted threats at the van driver, claiming he would “batter” him before attempting to approach the vehicle.
In response to Short’s aggression, the van driver drove at him at 20mph, resulting in Short being struck before the van sped away. When police intervened and arrested Short, they discovered the taser in his possession. Despite Short claiming the weapon was non-functional, the court deemed his actions as possessing an offensive weapon and reckless driving.
During a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, it was revealed that Short had a history of 13 previous convictions, including various driving offences and possession of illicit substances. Despite his defense arguing that the taser was inoperable and kept as a “curio,” Judge Vanessa Francis emphasized the seriousness of possessing such a weapon, categorizing it as a firearm.
As a result of his actions, Short was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes a rehabilitation activity requirement spanning 20 days. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £500 in costs. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with carrying illegal weapons, even those claimed to be non-functional.