A man has been handed a conditional release order without conviction after storing firearms in a school-type locker.
Benjamin Robert Starkey, 45, of Mathoura, pleaded guilty in Moama Local Court to possessing an unregistered firearm, possessing ammunition without holding a licence, permit or authority, not keeping a firearm safely and possessing an unauthorised firearm on December 9 last year.
Starkey, who was representing himself, said he took full responsibility for his actions.
“They were my grandfather’s guns and when he passed away my nan asked me to take them away, so I put them in my shed,” he said.
When questioned by magistrate Brian Van Zuylen about when that was, Starkey said about 20 years ago, but that problems at home had led to him forgetting about it.
Mr Van Zuylen said Starkey had plenty of time to secure the firearms properly rather than in a school-type locker.
“You are a respected member of the Mathoura community, you work full-time in Echuca, you’ve never been in trouble before and police were impressed with your attitude — you co-operated and were apologetic, but it is a matter of community safety,” he said.
Starkey was handed a conditional release order without conviction for 12 months.
“What this means is that you will have no criminal record if you don’t commit any other offences over the next 12 months,” Mr Van Zuylen said.
His firearms were also forfeited.