Dr Paul Gerard Slevin was arrested on September 28, after he allegedly forced his way into a woman's house in Lower Norton near Warwick while brandishing a knife.

The 46-year-old general practitioner, who had been receiving treatment from mental health services, is said to have then been stopped by armed officers in his Mercedes car, still armed with the knife.

A Taser stun gun was fired to incapacitate him.

It was the first time the 50,000 volt weapon, which is legal only in the hands of trained firearms officers, had been used in Warwickshire since they were introduced under a pilot scheme in 2004.

Seen as a non-fatal alternative to firearms, the weapons have nonetheless attracted some controversy.

Amnesty International has linked their use to 70 deaths in America, and claims they cause "intolerable pain" and may exacerbate the risk of heart failure in people who have taken drugs or have certain health problems.

Slevin, of Blythe Way, faces various charges, the first of which was an alleged assault which was described as 'domestic'.

He is then accused of driving off in his car, hitting other vehicles and threatening drivers with knives, before the final incidents in Lower Norton.

Prosecutor Vicki Lofrese said that in addition to the alleged assault, Slevin faces further charges of causing damage, possessing a knife in a public place, affray, dangerous driving, aggravated burglary and driving with excess alcohol.

His barrister told the court: "This matter is complicated by potential mental health issues. Dr Slevin has been seeing mental health professionals."

He is listed on an NHS website as practicing at the surgery of Dr B Kirkup and Partners in Cross Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

The case was adjourned for reports, prior to a plea and case management hearing in December.

There was no application for bail, and Slevin was remanded in custody by Judge Coates.

How Do Tazers Work?

* The pistol-like weapons work using compressed air to fire two darts that trail electric cable back to the handset.

* When the darts strike, a five-second 50,000-volt charge is released down the cable, causing the suspect's muscles to contract uncontrollably.

* Electrical signals overpower the body's normal electrical signals, temporarily confusing the nervous system.

* A laser dot helps target the suspect and the weapon, which runs off eight batteries, can be used at ranges up to 21ft.

* More than 3,000 Tasers, named after American manufacturer Taser International, have been issued to British police since 2004.

* Their use was restricted to firearms officers facing conventional guns between a 2004 pilot scheme and last year, but that was extended to cover 'other trained officers' and incidents of 'serious violence or threat' in July 2007.

* The weapons are now available to forces across the country. Some 891 shots have been fired.