Paul Dias, 57, charged with possessing unregistered, unsecured guns in Kingsgrove home

A father with dozens of character references, supported by about 15 people in court, has failed in a bail bid after he was allegedly caught with a cache of unsecured and unregistered guns in his south Sydney home.

Paul Dias, 57, was charged with 22 offences for possessing unauthorised guns and not storing them and ammunition correctly after police raided his Kingsgrove home. Picture: Facebook

A father has failed in a second bid to be released on bail after he was allegedly found with a cache of unsecured and unregistered guns in his south Sydney home.

Paul Dias, 57, was charged with 22 offences for possessing unauthorised guns and not storing the weapons and ammunition correctly after police raided his Kingsgrove home on December 13.

Dias pushed for bail in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday – where he was supported by about 15 people, including his wife and daughter.

Police allege Dias possessed 16 firearms including rifles, pistols, revolvers and a shotgun.

Police further allege ammo was stored in an unlocked plastic tub, though some was kept in a safe with guns.

Dias will be back in court at the end of the month.

Dias allegedly received the guns left a rural property near Young after the death of a man.

He died in December 2021 and Dias applied for a gun licence in February 2022.

Defence lawyer John Stonham said Dias “made admissions against his own interests” about “being in possession” of the guns.

He said central issues could be his client’s “inadvertence or oversight” in regards to registering and storing guns properly.

The court heard Dias was asked to return from holidays to Sydney on December 13, and police then carried out a search warrant at his home.

Mr Stonham said Dias was not clear why police wanted to speak with before the raid.

He said his client was compliant and he did not try to avoid police.

Police were concerned three guns had never been registered to the deceased man, nor Dias, the court heard.

Dias had spent 34 days in custody omn remand and an initial bail application on December 14 was denied.

Mr Stonham said Dias would abide by any bail conditions including a curfew, and could offer up a $250,000 surety through his daughter’s property.

The court heard 50 people who knew Dias had provided character references, some of which were tendered to court, indicating they believed Dias was a person who would comply with bail conditions.

Mr Stonham said Dias had strong family ties and no criminal history.

He told the court there was nothing to suggest his client would commit offences while on bail or fail to reappear.

Mr Stonham said there were no allegations of “nefarious conduct” involving Dias and the firearms.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly refused bail and said proposed bail conditions did not mitigate police concerns.

The case was adjourned to January 31.

Originally published as Paul Dias, 57, charged with possessing unregistered, unsecured guns in Kingsgrove home