A violent man who ordered three canisters of illegal CS gas online claimed he bought them by mistake – while trying to buy 'animal repellant'.
Ashley David Finney, 24, was arrested after the canisters were seized at the border after being found in a parcel which was addressed to his Weaverham home.
Finney, who has numerous convictions for violent assaults, ordered the sprays over the internet from a supplier in Germany in April, just months before he brutally attacked a man.
But the night shift worker claimed he purchased the CS gas, which is similar to pepper spray, after mistaking it for “animal repellent” which he needed to use on an American Bull Dog belonging to an old woman he was living with.
Finney, who was found guilty of purchasing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, tried to explain his actions to raised eyebrows during a hearing at Chester Crown Court today (Thursday, August 21).
“Basically I ordered them online,” said Finney, who lives on Northwich Road in Weaverham.
“I tried to order animal repellant. I ordered the wrong thing.”
And when District Judge Michael Abelson asked why he needed to by the 'animal repellant', Finney said: “To protect me from dogs.”
Finney also pleaded guilty to a violent attack, beating a man and punching him in the face on December 1 last year.
The case was adjourned until September 15 for reports.
