KINAHAN CARTEL: Crime boss number two jailed for three years for possessing 10,000 volt stun gun dis

THE second in command of Ireland's most feared organised crime gang has been jailed for three years for possessing a stun gun, while a National Crime Agency and Garda probe into the cartel continues.

Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, 51, (pictured) of the notorious Kinahan Cartel, was today sentenced to the prison term, meaning he could be out in as little as eighteen months.

Kavanagh was found guilty by a jury of keeping the 10,000-volt stun gun disguised as a torch among a stash of weapons at his fortified mansion in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Kavanagh, a prestige car dealer originally from Dublin, had previously admitted possession of the stun gun, but denied it had been disguised as a torch. But, he was convicted by a majority verdict at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after a three-day trial.

He was arrested at Birmingham Airport by officers from the NCA in January as part of a wider investigation into money laundering, drugs and firearms supply in the UK and Ireland.

HIDDEN: The dangerous weapon was disguised as a pink torch

During a search of his home on Sutton Road, Mile Oak, the stun gun was recovered.

The weapon is illegal to own or possess in the UK.

Kavanagh was charged with offences under Section 5 of the Firearms Act.

A previous hearing was told the £770,000 mansion was so well fortified, it took officers longer to gain entry. Details of other weapons and reinforced bulletproof glass at the home were withheld from the jury.

The court heard Kavanagh had a lengthy criminal record in the UK and Ireland for offences including possession of a firearm, making threats to kill, assault, breach of the peace and fraud.

RAID: Kavanagh's mansion was found to be heavily fortified

The court heard dad-of-six Kavanagh told officers he had found the stun gun on one of his kids, who got it on holiday, and confiscated it. Kavanagh gave no evidence in defence and had been out on bail.

Peter Bellis, lead investigator for the NCA, said: “These types of weapons are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. This is why they are prohibited in the UK."

He said a probe into the Kinahan Cartel continues, adding: “Our wider investigation into money laundering, drugs and firearms supply continues.”