A Palmerston North tattooist caught with 10 stun guns had intended to give away the illegal weapons as gifts.

Powerhouse Tattoos co-owner Stephen Brian Nesbit, 42, bought stun guns from an Auckland man for $100 each in November, but within days of receiving the guns, his Palmerston North home was raided by police.

They found a box of 10 stun guns on the dining room table.

Yesterday, Nesbit was sentenced at the Palmerston North District Court to four months' community detention and 175 hours' community service after pleading guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm.

The summary of facts stated Auckland police had been making inquiries into the sale and distribution of stun guns by a Whangaparoa man.

On August 16 the Whangaparoa man texted Nesbit asking if he wanted to buy stun guns for $100 each.

The guns are designed to generate a 10-amp current and 25,000-volt shocks.

Nesbit replied by saying he would buy 25 guns for $1500.

On November 14 Nesbit received the guns and five days later he sent a text to another person saying "250 ... tell him 300. 50 for you. 10 @ $1500".

In a police interview, Nesbit admitted the guns were his and he knew they were illegal.

He told police he'd bought the weapons for their gimmick value and he intended to keep two of them. The others he intended to give to friends as gifts.

Nesbit denied buying any more than the 10 guns, but police discovered the text messages between him and the man he bought them from.

"He declined the opportunity to discuss the whereabouts of the outstanding devices or to whom they had been given or sold to."

Judge Gerard Lynch said it was not clear what Nesbit had the guns for.

"Your naivete is outstanding," Judge Lynch said.

"You're a bit of a chancer. You were offered a bargain from a man who was leaving the country."

- © Fairfax NZ News