Brock Thomas Hunter jailed for possessing shortened gun

Mandatory jail for weapons possession has led to a 21-year-old Maroochydore man spending his Christmas behind bars after he was found with a gun and meth in Noosaville.

A 21-year-old Maroochydore man will be spending Christmas behind bars after Noosa police officers discovered a shortened firearm in his car while in possession of meth.

Brock Thomas Hunter was led away by police after he received one year’s jail for being in possession of an air pistol in public on August 8.

Noosa Magistrates Court heard the 21-year-old and a mate were at the 7-Eleven in Noosaville in a white ute about 2.10am when they were detained for a search.

Noosa Courthouse. Picture: Geoff Potter

Police prosecutor James Allen said when officers spoke to the pair it became clear Hunter’s mate was known to police.

Hunter told the officers he picked up his friend to socialise despite the Covid-19 lockdown in place at the time.

A search of their ute uncovered four needles and two knives in the driver’s side pocket of the car.

Mr Allen said an air pistol resembling a handgun was then found underneath Hunter’s driver’s seat mat.

The court heard under the weapons act an air pistol is considered a category H weapon and a short firearm.

After Hunter was taken to the watch house 0.2g of meth was found in his possession.

Mr Allen told the court there would be a minimum 12 month jail term for possession of a short firearm.

Defence lawyer Dean Mayr said the Maroochydore man had ongoing issues with drugs since 2016.

Mr Mayr said it was “tragic circumstances” for the young man due to the mandatory jail sentence.

Hunter pleaded guilty to possessing meth, a knife, failing to dispose of a syringe and possessing a short firearm in public.

He was sentenced to one year’s jail, with a parole release date of December 13, 2022.