Michael Charlesworth in court over unsecured gun, ammunition charges

He was the victim of a bizarre theft which sparked a major police search for missing weapons but this 76-year-old Bundaberg man also found himself in front of a magistrate. Here’s why.

Michael Charlesworth leaves Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

A driver, who bumped a car outside Coles, prompting a bizarre revenge theft of his belongings, has fronted court.

Michael Charlesworth, 76, was on his way home from a trip to the shooting range on August 22 when he was involved in the bingle at Coles Kensington.

The driver of the nudged car, despite having given Charlesworth a thumbs up to indicate there was no issue, then decided to take matters into his own hands by stealing a briefcase from his unlocked car, only to later find they contained two pistols.

In the course of the investigation into the weapons theft, police visited Charlesworth’s home and found an improperly stored rifle as well as unsecured ammunition in his car – the same ammunition that had been there when the pistols were stolen.

The court heard that in the stress of the day’s events, Charlesworth had not removed the ammunition from the vehicle and that the rifle had been used to make noise to scare wild dogs away because they had been attacking his chickens.

Bundaberg police prosecutor Claire Bibby said Charlesworth had apologised profusely.

The court also heard having his weapons stolen had been a stressful incident for Charlesworth, who had since relinquished ownership of the pistols.

Charlesworth’s lawyer Ryan Dwyer told the court his client was a pensioner but had worked most of his working life as a mine manager.

Charlesworth pleaded guilty to the charge of not securing weapons.

In sentencing, Magistrate Andrew Moloney noted that it was a “difficult balancing exercise” between Charlesworth’s good behaviour and clean record and the recognition of the incidents as “serious offences”.

He also noted the rifle had a purpose on Charlesworth’s property, Charlesworth being a licensed gun holder.

Charlesworth received a 12-month good behaviour bond and will only have to pay $900 if there’s a breach in that time.

No convictions were recorded.

The matter of the stolen pistols was dealt with separately in Bundaberg Magistrates Court.