Kioloa man Adam Boardman caught with taser and knife in public

A south coast man who was caught with a taser on a known ‘drug street’ informed police the weapon was just a torch.

Adam Boardman leaving Batemans Bay Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann.

A south coast man with a taser told police it was just torch after he was caught loitering on a street with high drug activity, a court has heard.

Adam Boardman, 38, from Kioloa, pleaded guilty in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday to possessing the prohibited weapon, having unlawfully obtained goods and having a knife in a public place.

Agreed police facts tendered to Batemans Bay Local Court stated Boardman was walking down Short Street in Batemans Bay, a street subject to a recent increase in drug activity.

Police were monitoring the street when they saw Boardman loitering near a house known to be involved in drug supply, court documents state.

“Based on his reasons for being in the area, his trembling hands, recent interactions with police and the actual location, police formed reasonable suspicion the accused was attending the location to purchase prohibited drugs,” agreed facts stated.

Searching his black Nike ‘Lad’ shoulder bag, police discovered a ‘BRIDAY’ branded taser wrapped in a sock.

After asking Boardman why he had the weapon, he told officers he did not know it was a taser.

“Mate, I don’t know what it is, it’s a torch I think,” Boardman said to police.

He then told police the ‘torch’ didn’t have power.

“Mate, I honestly found it,” he said.

“It’s got no charge, no nothing to it and works as a torch, that’s it.”

Agreed facts stated police turned the switch and a red light on the taser indicated it had power and worked.

Batemans Bay Courthouse. Picture: Tom McGann.

Officers also discovered a large folding knife and a brand new Samsung Smartwatch wrapped in a sock.

Boardman told police he had purchased the watch worth $600 for $400, however he could not provide any proof of purchase.

Police later discovered the watch was unlawfully obtained.

Representing himself in court, Boardman doubled down on his torch claim, informing Magistrate Doug Dick that’s all he was using the taser for.

“It wasn’t functional, it was just a torch,” Boardman said in court.

“I’d only just found it, the torch is the only bit that worked.”

Despite his claims, Mr Dick informed Boardman he would not be getting his ‘torch’ back.

“Just so you know, you don’t get those implements back,” he said.

Boardman was convicted and fined $600 for having the taser, fined $600 for having the knife in a public space and fined $600 for having the stolen watch.

Mr Dick also slapped Boardman with a two year community corrections order and 50 hours of community service.