Now living in Tumut, Joshua Thomas, appeared in Bega Local Court on Tuesday, July 27, for possession of an unauthorised firearm.

The firearm was a black gel blaster AB rifle and was found at his property during a search by police.

Mr Thomas had been working on a car for a man for whom police were searching when they requested to search the home in Tura Beach.

A gel blaster rifle was found by police in Mr Thomas' wardrobe during the search. The court heard the firearm is capable of firing a gel pellet about 15 metres.

The court heard the man was unaware possessing such a firearm was prohibited in NSW without a certified licence and he told police he had purchased it from eBay in September 2020.

The court heard that although Mr Thomas had been in the army, he did not hold a licence for the firearm.

His solicitor argued Mr Thomas had thought the item was similar to a toy and not classified as an imitation firearm.

Magistrate Doug Dick asked if the solicitor had seen a picture of the firearm before commenting that the object, "doesn't look like a toy".

Mr Thomas was sentenced and fined $1500 for possession of an unauthorised firearm.

In addition, through possession of the firearm he was in breach of three prior Community Corrections Orders (CCO) heard in court last year.

Mr Thomas had been fined a significant amount of money and ordered to perform community service for three prior offences, stated in court this week as supply of methylamphetamine, possessing a knife in a public place, and for stealing a wallet containing cards and cash.

His CCOs were revoked and he was ordered to pay an additional $2000 in fines.

Read more Court and Crime here

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