A 78-year-old man who pulled a "stupid stunt" at a police station has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting possession of a prohibited weapon. Vincent Cavaliere activated an electric shock device at the front desk of St Helens Police Station on June 5, causing a member of staff to jump back in shock and bang her head.
Prank at police station
Cavaliere, of Leach Lane, St Helens, attended the station to speak to his offender manager. When told the officer was unavailable, he leaned over the counter and activated the device, which emitted sparks and a crackling noise. He then laughed and asked: "Is this illegal? Sorry love."
The weapon, similar in appearance to a car key, was found to be a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Act 1968. The staff member, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, remains signed off from work more than two months later.
Previous convictions
Cavaliere was previously convicted of attempted sexual communications with a child in 2024 and was handed a sexual harm prevention order, which he breached earlier this year, resulting in an eight-month suspended sentence.
Oliver Saddington, defending, said his client's actions were "borne out of stupidity" and that he did not know he was doing anything wrong by purchasing the item. He added: "Some of these items are freely available. Unwittingly, a person may purchase them and not have the slightest idea of their status in law."
Sentence and warning
Judge David Swinnerton sentenced Cavaliere to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days. An additional five days of rehabilitation activity requirement was added to his pre-existing suspended sentence.
The judge told him: "I don't know why, in your 70s, you have suddenly started offending. Behave. Don't do stupid things. Treat other people well. Keep away from children. Don't come back."
