Northern Ireland

Leading loyalist Dee Stitt fined £300 for having stun gun

Dee Stitt stepped down as chief executive of Charter NI in September. Picture by Mal McCann
Dee Stitt stepped down as chief executive of Charter NI in September. Picture by Mal McCann Dee Stitt stepped down as chief executive of Charter NI in September. Picture by Mal McCann

LEADING loyalist David ‘Dee’ Stitt has been fined £300 after admitting having a stun gun.

Newtownards Magistrates Court heard how the prohibited weapon was found in a lunch box in the boot of his Mini Cooper car, parked outside his home at Lord Wardens Park in Bangor.

A prosecuting lawyer said that when officers told the 47-year-old that having the weapon was a crime, he replied: “I didn’t even know that.”

Asked why he had it during later interviews, Stitt told them it was for “personal safety, I’m under death threat”.

Defence solicitor Darren Duncan said that having received “a significant number of warnings from the police” that he was under threat, Stitt bought the combined stun gun and torch through eBay, adding that even though its illegal “it’s still available today”.

“He purchased it for that reason but when he bought it, he realised that from his point of view it wasn’t very powerful so it was put in a box in the boot of his car and that’s where it was found."

Mr Duncan said the weapon had “never been used on anyone” and added that while Stitt had a previous conviction, “it’s of some vintage” dating back 25 years.

He submitted that since his release from jail he has “made a positive contribution” to society having gained a masters in social science, being the CEO of a charity for 10 years and now being a co-ordinator for a local business which employs six people.

“He is highly unlikely to come back before the court in any regard so I would ask you to deal with the matter today,” Mr Duncan said.

Stitt was formerly chief executive of Charter NI, which made headlines in 2016 after The Irish News revealed that it was selected to manage a £1.7m Social Investment Fund scheme in east Belfast.

Stitt, a convicted armed robber, denied claims he was a UDA commander but came under pressure to step aside and finally resigned in September this year.

District Judge Mark Hamill said even though Stitt’s previous offence was 25 years ago, “the thing is he now has an up-to-date record”.

Imposing a £300 fine along with an offender levy of £15, the judge ordered the weapon to be destroyed and allowed Stitt 16 weeks to pay.

Stitt, clean shaven and wearing a knee-length brown coat over a suit, shirt and tie, left the court saying “Thank you” to the judge.

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