Robert Murray Andrews jailed for possessing firearm without a licence

A drug addict was jailed after he told police where he had hidden a gun – backtracking on his original excuse and telling them he planned to gift it to an old lady.

A career criminal who planned to swap a gun for meth decided to tell police where he had hidden it after seeing a gun amnesty ad, a court heard.

Robert Murray Andrews, 52, was jailed after his excuse that he planned to gift the gun to an elderly lady in exchange for accommodation fell flat with a Judge.

During sentencing, the District Court heard police attended Glenelg Highway Glenburnie, a Covid patrol site, to investigate Andrews having failed to stop at the border check point on September 12, 2021.

Following police checks Andrews was arrested for outstanding warrants, breaching the Emergency Management Act and breaching bail.

Andrews spoke with a corrections officer in the prison on December 16, 2021, advising him that he needed to tell police about a gun in his car.

The gun found in Robert Andrews' car. Photo: Courts SA

Andrews said he had seen a gun amnesty ad a week prior and that the gun was hidden in his car under a bag with some clothes.

“It was not loaded and you were driving to Mount Gambier to swap or sell it for methamphetamine,” Judge Joanne Tracey said during sentencing.

Police searched Andrews’ car and found a non-functioning, homemade, single shot bolt-action sawn-off rifle that was wrapped in tape.

The court heard for the gun to function, the metal spring would have needed to be replaced and the firing pin modified.

Andrews, of Mount Gambier, pleaded guilty to the possession of a prescribed firearm without a licence.

Robert Andrews pleaded guilty to possessing a prescribed firearm. Photo: Courts SA

He was jailed for over two years. Photo: Courts SA

The court heard Andrews had a lengthy criminal history, including sexual, violent dishonesty and drug offences.

The court heard Andrews had a traumatic childhood and was addicted to a variety of drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin.

“Your counsel tells me that his instructions from you are that you were in possession of the firearm as it had been given to you as a gift and you proposed to give it to an elderly woman with whom you were hoping to secure accommodation,” Judge Tracey said.

“Far more likely, in my view, is what you told corrections when you were taken into custody.”

Judge Tracey sentenced Andrews to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 21 months.

“You have said that your intention was to use the firearm to swap or sell it for drugs,” she said.

“Clearly, even in its non-functioning state, it held value to those who use such items for illegal purposes.”

The sentence was backdated to October 26.