Rohan Wakefield pleaded not guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to multiple firearm and drugs charges

A man accused of multiple firearm and drug charges – including a fully automatic rifle stolen from the Australian Defence Force – is set to face trial.

Rohan Wakefield will face trial in April after pleading not guilty to multiple firearm and drugs charges. Picture: Lucy Rutherford

A man has not pleaded not guilty to concealing a cache of high-powered weaponry and methamphetamine in the compartment of a ute.

Rohan Peter Wakefield, 33, will face trial in April after his counsel unsuccessfully argued that his charges should be dropped because there was not enough evidence to link him to the drugs and firearms.

A fully-automatic rifle was among a cache of weapons and methamphetamine allegedly hidden in a concealed compartment in a Holden ute.

Wakefield was arrested following investigations in January, last year.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that methamphetamine, ammunition and firearms were allegedly found hidden in a large fake pot plant within an esky in the tray of the ute parked at a Newton address.

Among the weapons found was a military grade Steyr AUG 5.56, which was believed to be stolen from the Australian Defence Force, and a Colt AR15 5.56 semiautomatic rifle with a scope attached.

Detective Superintendent Stephen Taylor from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch holding a Colt AR15 rifle. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

“There is a residential tenancy agreement which has both the defendant’s name and the name of his partner on it,” a police prosecutor said.

The court heard a delivery label with Wakefield’s name and address on it was also found in the tray of the ute.

A Ford Territory registered to Wakefield which also had a concealed compartment was parked next to the ute in the garage.

“A further search that was conducted the following day revealed further firearms,” the police prosecutor said.

“There was evidence of a recent disposal of a large amount of methamphetamine in the kitchen sink.

“The water was retrieved from the sink and tested and returned a positive result for methamphetamine.”

Wakefield, who now lives in Piccadilly, pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday to multiple firearm and drug charges.

David Edwardson QC, for Wakefield, submitted for the charges to be dropped saying prosecution evidence wasn’t strong enough to prove Wakefield was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

“It is not his vehicle, it does not belong to him,” Mr Edwardson said.

Mr Edwardson said there was no evidence that Wakefield had been living at the Newton address other than the joint lease agreement in his and his partner’s name.

“There is absolutely no evidence about the occupancy of the house,” he said.

Mr Edwardson said the delivery label with Wakefield’s name and address found in the ute is inadmissable and anyone had access to the open garage that the ute was parked in.

Magistrate Smart said the prosecution’s evidence was capable of finding Wakefield guilty to each charge.

Wakefield was committed to the District Court for trial on April 23.