Donna Maree Sell jailed for possession of unmarked firearm

A northern suburbs mother has been jailed after police located a loaded firearm in her shed alongside her child’s nappies.

A District Court Judge has declined a mother’s evidence stating she had “forgotten” she had a fully loaded gun in her possession, that was only at an arms reach away from her sons nappies.

Donna Maree Sell, 37, was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday after pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm, namely a sawn-off rifle, and ammunition.

Police attended Sell’s Smithfield home on July 25, last year.

Donna Sell pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Sell had said she received the sawn-off rifle from a woman known to her, but had “no idea what to do with it” before placing it – along with ammunition – into a pillowcase and PVC piping inside of a shed.

“Your explanation was that you had completely forgotten about it … and suggested you had put it there five years earlier and that it had slipped your mind,” Her Honour Judge Geraldine Davison said.

“I do not accept your evidence in relation to you putting the firearm there five years before and forgetting about it.

“The firearm was loaded … it has the capacity to be used for unlawful activities, either to shoot or threaten to shoot other people.”

The court heard the firearm was also without an identifying mark, which Judge Davison said was another reason it could have been used for unlawful activities.

Sell was also on home detention bail at the time the firearm was located for another matter, before it was revoked.

Donna Sell’s former co accused, Aaron Sandelance. Photo: Facebook

Aaron Paul Sandelance, 39 was also charged along side Sell, but his charges were later dropped.

Judge Davison sentenced Sell to two years, 11 months and 22 days for the aggravated possession of a prescribed firearm without a licence.

On the possessing a prescribed firearm without an identifying mark, Sell was sentenced to one year, three moths and 10 days.

Judge Davison also fixed a non parole period of one year and eight months.

All sentences were ordered to run concurrently, back dated to July 25, 2022.