Descendants bikie Mark Barford jailed for three years, two months for gun and methamphetamine offences
A bikie who ordered his son to flush a loaded revolver wrapped as a Christmas present down the toilet, and was in possession of “less than premium” drugs, has been jailed.
Police & Courts
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A gun-toting bikie who ordered his son to try and flush a loaded revolver disguised as a Christmas present down the toilet has been jailed.
Mark Barford, 59, a member of the Descendants motorcycle gang pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm as well as 67.29g of “non-premium” quality methamphetamine found hidden in the backyard of his northern suburbs home.
During sentencing earlier this month District Court Judge Joanne Tracey said Barford did not have the same motivation for possessing the gun as the average drug trafficker.
Both Barford and his son Adam were arrested shortly on December 14, 2019 when police arrived at their northern suburbs home to serve a firearms prohibition notice.
When police arrived Barford was not home and police called his mobile phone.
Barford answered their call but was also talking on a different phone to his son, telling him to flush the contents of a particular present down the toilet.
Police seized the Harrington and Richardson Young double action seven shot revolver from the cistern of the toilet.
The gun was loaded with six rounds and was able to be fired.
The container of methamphetamine – which was found to be of extremely poor quality – was found buried in the backyard of property.
Nick Vadasz, for Barford, argued his client used the drug as a way of getting up in the mornings and alleviating the lethargy from a mental health condition.
He acknowledged that a small amount of the drug would have been sold to others but the majority was for personal use.
The prosecution said the proximity of the firearm and the trafficable quantity of methamphetamine triggered legislation which meant Barford had to be sentenced as a serious firearm offender.
Judge Tracey refused to declared Barford a serious firearms offender.
“I cannot here be satisfied, to the requisite degree, that there is a nexus between your drug offending and the possession of the firearm,” she said.
However, Judge Tracey said that despite the methamphetamine being slightly burnt, moist and of low purity – it was still capable of being sold.
“It could be sold as it was to you,” she said.
“As submitted by the prosecution, there are always those who are desperate enough to buy lower quality drugs.
“It was not a premium product but it still had value.”
Barford was sentenced to three years, two months and 28 days in prison with a non-parole period of one year, four months and 26 days with his time already in custody taken into account.
Because of Barford’s numerous breaches positive drug samples while on home detention bail, Judge Tracey ordered he serve the sentence in prison.
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