TWO friends who ordered stun guns over the internet because they thought it would be funny to shock their pals on a camping trip ended up on weapons importation charges and now face sentencing by a Liverpool Crown Court judge.

Mark Johnson, 49, from Colne Drive in Sutton and Neil Twist, 42, from O'Sullivan Crescent in Blackbrook had selected the stun guns on a foreign auction website while sat in the pub. But the ramifications of their actions became clear on Tuesday when they sat beside each other in the dock at St Helens Magistrates' Court to hear the charges against them.

Both pleaded guilty to importing the stun guns which were disguised as torches.

Johnson was charged with importing two of the weapons and Twist one.

Prosecutor Angela Blackmore described them as "very serious offences".

She said: "On February 20 before 8pm immigration officers detected a package coming from the Netherlands and registered to the address of Mr Johnson. At first it appeared to be a flashlight valued at £10.

"Following an x-ray officers found it to be two stun guns with appropriate cables and paperwork."

She said following tests they were confirmed to be firearms. One hour later officers found another package addressed to Mr Twist. Mrs Blackmore said there was no initial indication what they were because there were concealed as other items.

Merseyside Police were contacted and took both men in for interview. Mrs Blackmore said Mr Johnson admitted buying the stun guns and explained he was going camping with friends, including Mr Twist. He was looking to buy a torch but was aware it had an electrical charge and thought it would be funny to shock his friends. He paid £40 for both weapons.

Mr Twist also said he thought it would be funny to use the stun guns on the camping trip.

Defence solicitor Patrick Heald said the two men had been in the pub and bought the items on an auction site. He said they had no idea it would place them, in this "invidious" position.

Mr Heald said: "This was not a sophisticated offence to use the items for nefarious purposes. They used their own debit cards and arranged delivery to their homes in their own names." He explained that if the packages hadn't been intercepted the pair would be facing much harsher charges.

Magistrates sent the case to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing due on Tuesday, October 6. Both men were given unconditional bail.