Former Hells Angels member Joshua Brougham jailed for hiding stolen rifle in the roof of his shed

He was banned from firearms, but this former Hells Angel was busted hiding a stolen rifle wrapped in plastic in his shed. Now he’s faced a judge.

A former member of the Hells Angels has been jailed after a stolen firearm was found hidden in the roof of his home.

Joshua Brougham, 33, denied he had any knowledge the stolen rifle and ammunition was secreted in the roof of a rear shed of the property, but a jury found otherwise, convicting him of possessing the firearm and ammunition in contravention of a firearms prohibition order.

District Court Judge Michael Durrant said during sentencing shortly before Christmas the Marlin .25 bolt-action repeating rifle had been stolen on May 3, 2020, from a licensed firearm owner.

On May 12, 2020, police searched Brougham’s home as part of a routine firearms prohibition check.

A similar firearm, with a defaced serial number, was found wrapped in yellow plastic and black tape and hidden between two sheets of roofing in a rear shed.

The wrapped firearm found in the shed of former Hells Angel Joshua Brougham. Picture: District Court

The gun found hidden inside Joshua Brougham’s shed. Picture: District Court

A magazine containing seven bullets was inside the gun.

A court-released photo of ammunition found in Brougham’s possession. Picture: District Court

In a second smaller shed police found two rifle scopes, both of which belonged to the same owner as the rifle.

Judge Durrant said in line with the jury verdict he was satisfied Brougham knew the gun was in the roof – however he said there were no allegations Brougham was involved in the theft of the weapon.

“You resided at the premises where the firearm was found,” he said.

“You had the opportunity to secrete the firearm where it was found. The premises were secure to the extent others were prevented from access as the gate was padlocked and the fences were intact.

The rifle found on the property of former Hells Angel Joshua Brougham. Picture: District Court

“It is unlikely, due to the security of the property, that others had used it.”

Brougham was under a police-ordered firearms prohibition order at the time of his arrest.

A copy of the order released by the court showed that for several years Brougham was a member of the Hells Angels.

On three occasions in 2014 Brougham was found by police wearing the club colours and in company with other members of the gang.

During a search of Brougham’s home in 2019 police found no Hells Angels clothing or items and a month later he was removed from the police’s membership listings.

A court-released photos of the firearm found in Brougham’s possession. Picture: District Court

However, the firearms prohibition order remained in place in part because of Brougham’s criminal history, which included offences of violence and resisting police, and his ongoing association with other Hells Angels members.

Brougham was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years, seven months and seven days.

With time already spent in custody he will eligible for parole in mid-2025.