Lawyer: Client like 'Homer Simpson'

WALSALL , England, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A British man who admitted in court to illegally possessing a Taser was branded a real life "Homer Simpson" by his lawyer.

Ricky Hodgkinson said after admitting the offense -- a violation of the Firearms Act of 1968 -- at Walsall Magistrates' Court that he had purchased the non-lethal weapon from a friend and had only used it once -- on himself, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

"I wanted to test it out to make sure it worked so I shot myself in the chest. I was told it discharged a million volts but I wasn¹t left in much pain at all," he said.

Attorney John Walker compared his client in court to the famously stupid TV dad.

"He is like the cartoon character Homer Simpson. It was a silly thing for him to do but he hasn¹t used it on anyone but himself," Walker said. "As he stands before you today he realizes he has put himself in a serious situation by purchasing that weapon."

Hodgkinson agreed with his lawyer's assessment after the hearing.

"I suppose I have to agree with my solicitor -- I am a bit like Homer Simpson. It was a stupid thing to do really," he said.

His sentencing has been scheduled for next month.