Youth with ties to Operation Meld photographed himself with sawn-off shotgun, Youth Court told

Adelaide teenagers as young as 16 are taking selfies holding modified shotguns and are dishing out vigilante justice, a court has heard.

Youths as young as 16 are taking photos of themselves armed to the teeth with modified firearms in a disturbing escalation of the northern suburbs gang war.

Police have located one sawn-off shotgun, but the fate of other similar weapons remains unknown with the deadly weapons still likely available to gang members involved in a simmering war across Adelaide.

An alleged member of the 051 youth gang and talented football player appeared in court last week for sentencing on charges of possessing a firearm and 131 ketamine tablets.

The court heard that only last month he was arrested in a car with a firearm and a phone search revealed more photos of him holding high powered firearms.

Youth Court Magistrate Alison Adair said the now 17-year-old, who cannot be named under young offenders legislation, was to be sentenced on almost a dozen files including multiple charges of breaching bail as well as affray and drug trafficking.

On October 23, 2021, a family walking in Davoren Park watched as a Chrysler with four males pulled up to the side of the road and a brawl with knives and poles ensued.

“You were seen to kick a man a number of times while another man armed with a pole was standing nearby filming the attack,” Ms Adair said.

Photos of men arrested following a fatal stabbing in the Adelaide CBD which was linked to violence between two rival gangs. Picture 7News

On January 9, 2022, the youth was charged with aggravated possession of a sawn-off shotgun without a licence.

The youth refused to answer questions about the firearm and was charged with failing to assist police. The charges stemmed from photos on the youth’s phone.

Ms Adair said the shotgun was later recovered by police at a house inhabited by a female youth. In the youth’s northern suburbs home police also found ammunition and 131 ketamine tablets in a school bag.

Photos of men arrested following a fatal stabbing in the Adelaide CBD which was linked to violence between two rival gangs. Picture 7News.

Lana Chester, for the youth, argued that her client did not own the gun and had only been in possession of it for a short time. She said the youth was reluctant to talk to authorities about the gun because its owner had links to bikies.

Ms Chester also argued that the youth was only storing the drugs for another person.

Ms Adair sentenced the youth to three months and 18 days in custody after taking into account time he had already spent in youth detention and a discount for entering an early guilty plea. The sentence was suspended.

Photos of men arrested following a fatal stabbing in the Adelaide CBD which was linked to violence between two rival gangs. Picture 7News.

The youth was arrested again on November 30 this year when he was caught with an 18-year-old man in a car at Bolivar. Both were charged with possessing a firearm.

On Friday, December 16, the youth was arrested a second time at the Youth Justice officers after police analysed his phone and allegedly found more photos of him holding firearms.

He was released on bail on those charges with Ms Chester indicating he would be contesting those charges.