Paul Victor Hofmann – who had more than 260 guns – wanted to be arms dealer, court told

An avid collector at the centre of one of the largest seizures of firearms in recent criminal history had plans to become an arms dealer, a court has heard.

A man who collected a huge arsenal of more than 260 guns planned to become an arms dealer but was “lazy” and had not obtained appropriate weapons licences, a court has heard.

Paul Victor Hofmann, 56, amassed the firearms, firearms parts, thousands of rounds of ammunition and weapons including bayonets, throwing knives, silencers and a crossbow at his Adelaide Hills property.

When police raided his property in August 2019 it took them three days to find, identify, render safe and seize the weapons.

Andrew Ey, for Hofmann, told the District Court on Monday his client was a collector of ”a vast number of things”.

“He collects car parts, he collects stamps and, of course, he has collected firearms and ammunition,” he said.

“Plainly my client has significant interest in firearms and all things military.”

Paul Victor Hofmann leaves the District Court on Monday. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

He said Hofmann “did not have these firearms or ammunition for any nefarious purpose”.

“Indeed it was Hofmann’s wish to become a firearms dealer in the fullness of time and he intended to legitimise his collection,” Mr Ey said.

He said Hofmann had not done that because “he was lazy” and had “got carried away” amassing his collection.

Mr Ey said his client, a fitter and turner by trade, kept the weapons in a lockable attic attached to his bedroom and a secret room hidden behind a bookcase which could also be locked.

He said Hofmann had no intention of “doing anything illegal” with the weapons and urged the court to consider suspending any term of imprisonment. He said Hofmann had spent 13 months in custody after his August 2019 arrest and had complied with strict home detention bail since September 2020.

Some of the weapons seized, by SA Police, from Hofmann’s property. Picture: SA Police

Hofmann had been charged with more than 400 offences relating to the weapons cache but pleaded guilty to 87 “representative” counts last November. Separate allegations of sexual offending were withdrawn.

Frank Niemann, prosecuting, said Hofmann’s offending was “extremely serious” and “one of the largest seizures of firearms in recent criminal history”.

“The police located and seized some 260 firearms from the defendant’s property a well as a significant amount of ammunition, weapons, firearms parts, documents and blueprints on how to manufacture firearms and explosives,” he said.

He said many of the guns, some of which were loaded, were not registered. Some had no serial number or altered serial numbers which meant they were “essentially untraceable” and “an incredible risk to the community” should the weapons fall into the wrong hands.

Mr Niemann said the only appropriate penalty was a term of imprisonment.

Judge Jo-Anne Deuter will sentence Hofmann in June.