A drug dealing mum-of-four who was caught with a stun gun disguised as a torch has walked free from court.

Michaela Harper, who was also growing cannabis in her shed, said she had the weapon to protect herself as she was a single mum living in Penhill.

And after hearing the naive 28-year-old was caught after she called the police in the dead of night because of noises outside her home a judge decided not to jail her.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how officers went to her home in the early hours of Tuesday, August 25.

She said Harper had heard men outside her property who she feared may be trying to break in, and when the police arrived they immediately smelled cannabis.

The defendant said she had smoked some earlier and when they looked in her pocket they found the stun gun, which also functioned as a torch.

"When asked about she admitted it was a taser and she had it to protect herself as she is a single mum of four children," Miss Hingston said.

She said the officers then found about £2,000 worth of cannabis in carrier bags in the house and three plants growing in the shed.

Although they were at early stage of development the court was told there was reflective material and lamps in the shed.

And when her mobile phone was examined it was found to contain a number of tests relating to the sale of the drug.

Harper, of Hilmarton Avenue, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and production of the drug.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client had bought the weapon from a friend of a friend and had no idea it was illegal to own.

"She says it was not connected with the drug operation, if I can use that term. She is a single mother with four children aged five to 12.

"She had problems with people at the door and stealing her children's bikes. A friend suggested she get something to protect herself.

"She was blissfully unaware that what she was doing was illegal. That it was in her pocket when police arrived shows the level of ignorance on her behalf.

"That is the reason she has the weapon, for self protection. There is no suggestion she is any sort of bad mother of the children are exposed to the drugs in any way."

He said she only sold drugs to a few friends who knew she was growing it for her own habit, which started after she self medicated for a shoulder problem.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "The possession of a firearm of any type is regarded as a serious offence and you must be left in no doubt about that.

"To your credit you are a young person, you have no relevant convictions and you have led an otherwise law abiding life, for your adult life, and there are no relevant convictions of any substance against you."

He imposed a nine-month jail term suspended for 18 months and told her to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, a thinking skills programme and rehabilitation activity.