Gregory James Thomas was sentenced at Chinchilla Magistrates Court following ‘replica’ gun purchase from markets

A memorabilia collector who was caught with drugs told police he thought the gun he purchased unlicensed from a Western Downs markets stall was a ‘replica’ of a World War II rifle.

A man claimed he was under the impression the gun he had was a ‘replica’ of a World War II weapon after being busted with unlawful possession of a rifle among other drug-related charges.

Gregory James Thomas appeared at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on June 22 after police conducted a search of his property and found a number of illegal items.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said police attended the 28-year-old’s home on April 29 in relation to other matters when they noticed a bowl with marijuana in the living room.

“Subsequently they conducted a search of the property and seized a bolt action rifle with the serial number removed, 46g of marijuana, 1g of seeds, utensils fashioned for smoking marijuana and five glass pipes fashion for smoking methamphetamine,” Sergeant Brady said.

“(Thomas) was fully cooperative with police and admitted he owned all the items. He said he purchased the firearm knowing he wasn’t licenced from a market stall at Miles.”

The Chinchilla man told the court he was under the impression the rifle he purchased wasn’t activated.

“I’d like to state the firearm is just from lack of knowledge, I thought it was a replica or deactivated,” Thomas said.

Gregory James Thomas was sentenced at Chinchilla Magistrates Court on June 22 for the unlawful possession of a firearm he claimed he thought was a replica. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Kyna Morice queried the man’s excuse.

“Why would you think that?” she asked.

The man said he believed it were a replica of a 1944 weapon.

“I like to collect World War I and World War II memorabilia,” he said.

“I was told it was deactivated, and there was no bolt or magazines.”

Ms Morice reiterated the laws relating to owning weapons and said that despite the weapon not having a bolt it could still be used.

“You can understand though why people would be concerned with the combination of charges that you have.”

Thomas pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing a category B weapon, possessing a firearm with the identifying serial number being defaced, possessing drugs and possessing utensils.

He was fined $1000, no conviction was recorded.