Geelong man Conrad Barker busted with meth and stolen guns in Mildura

A Geelong man has been told he needs to stop “playing gangster” by a Mildura magistrate, after he was arrested with drugs and imitation weapons.

Conrad Barker was sentenced at Mildura Magistrates Court on multiple charges including theft of a gun safe that had multiple weapons and ammo inside of it. Picture: Generic

A wannabe Geelong gangster with a penchant for firearms was busted in a stolen car in Mildura, carrying imitation weapons and meth.

Conrad Barker, who was arrested in dramatic scenes on Seventh St in Mildura earlier this year, pleaded guilty at Mildura Magistrates’ Court to multiple charges including theft of a motor vehicle, drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The court heard Barker and a co-accused broke into a shed at a Highton property in Geelong in 2022, stealing a gun safe with copious amounts of weapons and ammo inside, including an air rifle, a shotgun, and .44 calibre magnum ammunition, among others.

The 30-year-old and his co-accused were chased off the property by the owner after he was woken up by his dog in the early hours of the morning.

In January of this year, Barker and two other co-accused were arrested after stealing a VF SSV Redline Holden Commodore from a Mildura home.

Barker was sentenced to 12 months behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges at Mildura Magistrates Court

The three were arrested by police at the Grand Hotel on Seventh St.

When officers searched the car, they found multiple bags with imitation handguns, and Barker was found to be in possession of 40g of methylamphetamine.

Magistrate Patrick Southey commended Barker for co-operating with police in locating one of the stolen weapons — a shotgun — but lambasted him for behaving like a gangster given his age.

“You’re 30 years old. Playing a gangster might be amusing in your younger years but as you get older, it just gets embarrassing Mr Barker,” Mr Southey said.

Barker received a 12 month prison term, had his licence disqualified for six months and will need to engage in a community corrections order for 18 months upon his release.

“Had you not pleaded guilty, you would have received two years imprisonment,” Mr Southey said.

With 296 days reckoned a pre-sentence detention, Barker will be due for release by the end of October this year.

Originally published as Geelong man Conrad Barker busted with meth and stolen guns in Mildura