Jaiden Ledain refused bail over drug, firearm charges

The Grovedale teen, arrested on Sunday, faces 25 charges including drug and firearm possession, as well as retention of stolen goods.

Jaiden Ledain has been denied bail, as he faces 25 charges including drug and firearm possession. Picture: supplied.

A Grovedale teenager allegedly found with “fair quantity” of drugs and a homemade firearm has been refused bail.

Jaiden Ledain, 19, was arrested on Sunday night in Lara and appeared in the dock at Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday to apply for bail.

Mr Ledain faces 25 charges, including drug and firearm possession and retention of stolen goods.

The court heard police opposed bail, as Mr Ledain was “found with a lot of different drugs … and in possession of a homemade firearm and ammunition to fit that firearm”.

The police’s summary was not read aloud, but the court heard that before 7pm on Sunday, police were called in relation to a separate matter that Ledain was not involved in Lara.

The alleged offenders in that incident got into a car with Mr Ledain, the court was told, who was allegedly identified by witnesses and via CCTV from a nearby McDonalds.

Leading Senior Constable Thomas Stewart, testifying on behalf of the lead officer in the case, told the court Mr Ledain was an “avid drug user” whose circumstances failed to meet the threshold to allow his release.

Constable Stewart told the court ballistic tests would needed to reveal whether the device was a working firearm.

Mr Ledain’s lawyer, Sarah Wood, questioned how long that would take.

Constable Stewart said he wasn’t qualified to provide a timeline, but said “on experience” the process could be expedited given Mr Ledain was in custody.

Mr Stewart described the alleged firearm as being a 45-60cm long galvanised steel tube with a firing pin and spring-loaded mechanism that could be used to fire 12-gauge shotgun shells.

The court heard police allegedly found shotgun shells of that gauge in Mr Ledain’s possession during the search.

Ms Wood told the court her client should be granted bail, as due to cognitive issues, his youth and his indigenous heritage he would be vulnerable in custody.

Ms Wood also called Mr Ledain’s mother to the stand to testify during the hearing, and told the court she could “keep a tight leash on him”.

The court heard Mr Ledain was already living with his mother when the alleged offending took place.

Ms Wood asked the court to grant Mr Ledain bail for “a week to start with”, after which he could be assessed by Youth Justice for supervised bail.

Magistrate Franz Holzer disagreed, telling the court “none of the matters raised give me any comfort whatsoever”.

Mr Holzer said he took into Ms Wood’s arguments into account, but said the charges were serious and “there are no conditions of bail that alleviate my concerns”.

Mr Ledain will reappear in court on July 3.

Originally published as Jaiden Ledain refused bail over drug, firearm charges