Nicholas and Myfanwy Halliwell fined over clerical error that ended their gunsmithing business

A missing date has closed down a highly regarded Adelaide engineering business that brought in $1m a year and employed six people.

A million-dollar firearms business has been shut down, and two parents of special-needs children are now on Centrelink, after a clerical error in a gun sale resulted in criminal proceedings.

Myfanwy Halliwell, 41, and Nicholas Halliwell, 44, from Para Hills, were operating their business, Ignition Custom Engineering in Pooraka and looking to support a “valued” customer in acquiring new firearms for his work as a contract shooter.

During sentencing in December, Judge Paul Muscat said the couple held all the relevant licences – as did the customer – to acquire the two category-D firearms, being Wedgetail .308 and .223 calibre rifles – under a loan agreement.

Myfanwy and Nicholas Halliwell pleaded guilty to two firearms supply offences. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

But a clerical error on a Permit to Acquire form sent to the Firearms Branch of the South Australian Police Department – a missing date – sparked an official criminal investigation.

The guns were loaned to the customer from the business after being received from a supplier lawfully in Victoria.

The court heard the guns were on loan from April 19 to May 4, 2022, and later for various periods between May and October 2022 – during which time the first and a second permit were being processed.

The court heard that on September 11, 2022, police officers attended the customer’s home to conduct a firearms security compliance audit, where the rifles were located and seized.

The customer was cautioned, and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

“It is clear that there was no intention to breach the Firearms Act or regulations. The loan agreements that were entered into were in writing,” Judge Muscat said.

“There was nothing covert about the arrangements. What occurred here was a technical breach of the regulations.”

Mr Halliwell – who lists himself on social media as ‘The Bearded Gunsmith’ – was fined alongside his wife. Picture: Emma Brasier

The couple’s specialty gun shop – which opened in 2014 – had five employees and one apprentice at the time the Halliwells were charged and had an annual turnover of $1m.

The court heard the business had now closed, and the couple were attempting to survive on savings and Centrelink payments.

The Halliwell family home was remortgaged after their charges to support their three young children – two of whom have special needs.

“There is no doubt that each of you has suffered substantial extra-curial punishment as a result of your noncompliance with the regulations,” Judge Muscat said.

Mr Halliwell – who lists himself on social media as ‘The Bearded Gunsmith’ – and Ms Halliwell both pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully supplying a category D firearm without complying with the regulations under the Firearms Act.

Judge Muscat fined both Mr and Ms Halliwell $475, did not disqualify them from holding or obtaining future firearms licences, and did not record criminal convictions.