Matthew Brady awaits sentencing after joint SAPOL and ABF search warrant uncovers weapon haul
A man who a prosecutor says has “very dangerous and fanatical” obsession with guns and warfare has begged for no jail after the discovery of a stockpile of illegal weapons.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man found with ballistic body armour, bomb-making material and dozens of firearms has insisted some of the weapons belonged to a former drug acquaintance.
Matthew James Brady, 39, has begged for no jail after a prosecutor told the court he has a “very dangerous and fanatical” obsessions with firearms and warfare.
A joint operation between SAPOL and the Australian Border Force uncovered the weapons and prohibited items after a search warrant was executed at Brady’s workplace and Roxby Downs home on February 28.
Among the items seized were 15 long arm firearms, six hand guns, a sawn off shotgun, ballistic body armour, silencers, gel blasters, material used to make pipe bombs, a pistol grip crossbow, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, knives and handheld stun guns.
Brady, of Port Pirie, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including possessing firearms, ammunition and prohibited weapons.
Casey Isaacs, for Brady, told the court while the majority of firearms were locked in a cabinet he conceded a shotgun was found under his bed and three air rifles were located in his client’s bedroom.
“However I do say there’s no suggestion that these items were in his possession for any nefarious purpose,” he said.
Mr Isaacs said Brady had an acquaintance in Whyalla who was a wanted person for the theft of a number of firearms.
The court heard Brady allowed the man to stay with him for a few days before he went back to Whyalla.
“He never returned and Mr Brady indicates that he left all his possessions with him, including all of these firearms,” he said.
Mr Isaacs said Brady didn’t want to provide information to implicate the man as he knew him from a time when he was involved in drugs.
“He has a questionable background, he was concerned about his own safety and that of his family,” he said
Mr Isaacs said Brady had five children and was engaged to his pregnant partner up until a couple of weeks ago but was hopeful of reconciliation.
“Unfortunately due to the strain of these proceedings and the like, that relationship has broken down where they’re now separated,” he said.
Mr Isaacs pushed for a home detention sentence, saying inquiries by police found there was some merit in Brady’s story.
Georgina Nicholson, for the prosecution, said the offending was too serious for anything but immediate jail.
“The defendant has been arrested with a cache of firearms, ammunition and a significant amount of other weapons and prohibited items,” she said.
Ms Nicholson said Brady had a very dangerous and fanatical obsessions with firearms and warfare, including books on how to make particular guns, and his culpability went beyond storing firearms for a friend.
Brady will be sentenced in February.
‘Castrate me, please’: Serial pedophile’s final plea
A predator stung twice by undercover SA police officers while trying to abuse children has told a judge he has a final fix for his repulsive obsession.
Horrifying CCTV captures woman hit and killed in crash
A 53-year-old woman has died after being struck by a car in front of a Kmart in Adelaide’s east, while another man has been seriously hurt in an expressway crash.