A search for a taser gun allegedly used in an argument between neighbours over dog excrement yielded an old airgun, which the man charged with its unlicensed possession insisted was his grandfather’s.

A a 34-year-old bus driver from Gżira was arrested on Tuesday after the police stumbled upon the old, rusty weapon on a wardrobe in an unused room in his apartment.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana told Magistrate Carol Peralta the police were called to a disturbance between neighbours in a block of flats in Fleet Street.

The driver and his neighbours were arguing over their dog which was pooping in the common areas.

When the police arrived, theneighbours alleged that the driver had threatened them with a taser gun.

Despite not having a warrant, the police searched the apartment because of “reasonable suspicion” and in one of the rooms they found the rusty airgun and a box of pellets.

Defence lawyer Josianne Cardona Gatt said the apartment was owned by her client’s grandfather. When the apartment was being cleared, everything was placed in a room. Among the many items in the room, the police found the airgun her client insisted did not know it was there. No taser gun was found.

The court was informed that the neighbouts would be arraigned in the Sliema district sitting and charged with their part in the disturbance.

Making it amply clear that he disagreed with the arraignment under arrest, Magistrate Peralta granted the man bail against a personal guarantee of €500.