Aaron Graeme Houghton pleads guilty to carrying dangerous goods, unlawful dealing with explosives

A former Navy member who was found with a razor-embedded bat told the court he was just having fun, after being inspired by a horror film.

A FORMER navy officer busted with a razor-embedded club and ‘sparkler bombs’ this week said he had not intended to cause any harm with the items.

Instead the explosive devices had been made for fun, and the club was made after being inspired by a horror film.

Concerned Ipswich judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC told Aaron Houghton that the homemade sparkler bombs could potentially cause harm, when he went before the District Court for sentence on Tuesday.

Aaron Graeme Houghton, 34, a former able seaman with the Royal Australian Navy, pleaded guilty to carrying dangerous goods in a motor vehicle on June 6, 2020; and unlawful dealing with explosives.

He also pleaded guilty to lesser charges of being in possession of drug utensils; possession of property used in a drug offence; not having authority to possess explosives (ammunition); and unlawful possession of a category M weapon.

Crown prosecutor Jacqueline Malouf said police searched Houghton’s home and located a device between the front seats of his ute.

One object was wrapped in tape with a sparkler protruding. Another explosive homemade device wrapped in duct tape was found beneath his bed.

Ms Malouf said a search of a shed located a glass pipe, clip seal bags, a set of digital scales, eight unfired shotgun shells, and a jar held explosive powder.

The court was told a throwing star and a wooden bat were also located. The bat had been wrapped in barbed wire with razor blades embedded in one end.

Houghton was arrested and spent two days in the police watch-house before he was granted bail.

Ms Malouf said Houghton initially denied knowledge of the sparkler device found in the ute but told police he made some of the sparkler bombs.

Ms Malouf said there was potential for harm, although none was caused.

She said a comparative legal case involving Cvjetin Ivkovic, which was heard previously before Judge Horneman-Wren, had been of a more serious nature than that of Houghton, and a more sophisticated example as the explosive device was found in a public place.

She said Houghton had prior drug and weapon convictions for bullets and a pen gun.

“What is a pen gun,” Judge Horneman-Wren asked.

“A spring-loaded pen device that fires airgun pellets,” defence barrister Geoffrey Seaholme said.

Mr Seaholme said the device Houghton was caught with was intended to be used for entertainment purposes.

“They were more of an entertainment thing for the children,” Mr Seaholme said.

Mr Seaholme gave background to Houghton’s offending, saying the former able seaman had suffered serious injuries including a fractured spine during a navy exercise.

This led to his discharge from the service with Houghton now receiving a defence service pension.

He had seen overseas service with deployment to The Gulf and been personally impacted by the loss of his career.

Mr Seaholme said he had foolishly stopped taking prescribed pain medication and he also used drugs for pain management.

Houghton also instructed that the razor blades and the barbed wire on the bat was made by his girlfriend after watching the movie the Walking Dead.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the courts knew from experience that things do go wrong with such devices and that they can have tragic consequences.

“We know a young man had lost his hand,” he said.

He took into account that Houghton had served his country for 10 years with the Royal Australian Navy.

Judge Horneman-Wren also read a document written by a commanding officer about the impact that the loss of his service career had on him.

He also warned Houghton that he should stay with prescription medication.

“There is no future in using the hideous methylamphetamine to manage your pain,” he said.

Houghton was sentenced to an 18-month probation order to include programs and counselling.