Moreton Bay father Mitchell Ned Gough in Caboolture court for multiple charges

The decision to drive to Maccas with a pistol, meat cleaver and gel blaster in the car proved disastrous for a Moreton Bay father, whose life continues to spiral after a successful boxing career.

Police prosecutor Tia Herd told the court a 22 calibre Rugar pistol, with a loaded magazine and fitted silencer, was located under the driver’s seat of the vehicle Gough was driving. Picture: File

A court north of Brisbane has heard the latest slip-up of a junior boxing prodigy, after he was found with a modified pistol under the driver’s seat of his car, saying he was fearful for his life since his recent release from prison.

Mitchell Ned Gough, 31, appeared via videolink in Caboolture Magistrates Court on February 23, 2024, charged with two counts unlawful possession of a category H weapon, dangerous operation of a vehicle, authority required to possess explosives, driving without a licence repeat offender, fail to comply with duties of driver involved in a crash and give the driver’s required particulars to an injured person, obstruct police officer, offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons and two counts of possess property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence.

He also faced six counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possession of a knife in public place, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under drugs misuse act, receiving tainted property, receiving tainted property – firearm or ammunition, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property, using or permitting use of and traffic charges.

The court heard all offences were committed on May 31, 2023 at 362 Deception Bay Road, Deception Bay.

Police prosecutor Tia Herd told the court a 22 calibre Rugar pistol, with a loaded magazine and fitted silencer, was located under the driver’s seat of the vehicle Gough was driving.

“This offence attracts a minimum penalty of 12 months imprisonment,” Ms Herd said.

“He has a six-page criminal history and there was a significant term of imprisonment imposed on February 6, 2020 from the Brisbane Supreme Court, when the defendant received a five-year term of imprisonment for a trafficking offence.”

Police prosecutor Tia Herd told the court a 22 calibre Rugar pistol, with a loaded magazine and fitted silencer, was located under the driver’s seat of the vehicle Gough was driving. Picture: File

Gough’s Lawyer Ryan Roache told the court that as a teenager, Gough was competing in Golden Glove championships and was on the road to a professional boxing career.

The court also heard Gough came from a stable family and had a nine-year-old daughter and that Gough’s supportive father was in the back of the courtroom.

Mr Roache told the court Gough had a fall when he was 16 at the Deception Bay skate bowl, severely fracturing his face and was out of action for 12 months.

“That’s when he lost all his confidence socially, fell into the wrong crowd and was the start of his downfall,” Mr Roache said.

“That time he was out of action, without knowing what to do, led him to drug use and the drug that always ruled him was methamphetamine.

“The positives he had was that he went straight into the workforce and went to work with his father’s friend at Express Pallets Narangba.

“He worked there on and off for four years and while he’s been incarcerated, he’s made attempts to obtain certificates he needs to rehabilitate himself.”

Mr Roache told the court Gough was released on parole on April 19, 2023 for previous offending and lived with his parents and began supporting his daughter.

“He gained employment as a concreter and was working for Dunrite Concreting,” Mr Roache said.

“He worked there full time for five weeks and was paid $1,250 cash a week.

“His employer was looking to set him up with a work vehicle and everything was again on track.

“About a week before this current offending, a childhood friend of Gough’s was killed.

“Three days before his arrest, he contacted Lives Lived Well and made an appointment regarding a rehabilitation program.

“Unfortunately he didn’t make that appointment and had a relapse.”

Gough’s Lawyer Ryan Roache told the court that as a teenager, Gough was competing in Golden Glove championships and was on the road to a professional boxing career. Picture: File

Mr Roache then told the court on the day in question, Gough borrowed a vehicle not driven in four-five months and it still had possessions of the vehicle owner in it.

“He had someone over to replace the windscreen that had a crack so he was trying to get the car roadworthy,” Mr Roache said.

“He made the mistake of deciding to drive to the local McDonald’s to get some food and this is where the whole circumstances of the offending occurred.

“He wasn’t aware there was a meat cleaver in the vehicle.

“The gel-blaster rifle was non-functional with wires hanging out the back.

“The other items were in the vehicle because he’s in fear of his safety.

“He has people on the wrong side of him, he’s got people dying around him, associates.

“Since he had been out of jail, he was incredibly fearful of what could happen to him.

“When he was at the McDonalds, he didn’t realise it was the police who had come up to the window and put their hand in initially.

“He was in a panicked state and tapped the accelerator, I’ve watched the footage and the whole distance of driving, it’s only 20 metres in the drive-through.

“When he makes contact with the other vehicle, it’s only a light tap, there’s no indication of damage to the vehicle or others involved.”

Mr Roache added only small quantities of drugs for personal use were found on Gough and that he had managed to strike up a relationship while incarcerated with a disability support worker.

Magistrate Kurt Fowler sentenced Gough, who pleaded guilty to all charges, to 18 months imprisonment, disqualified him from obtaining a driver’s licence for nine months and set a parole eligibility date of May 30, 2024, declaring the 269 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served.

“I note your criminal history, for someone who obviously had significant promise at a younger age, with training and your ability to the level I’m told by Mr Roache, you were at some stage a person who was able to illustrate extraordinary discipline, otherwise you would not have progressed to the level that you were,” Mr Fowler said.

“Your history is disturbing.

“You have a raft of offending of different types.

“You’ve received periods of imprisonment on multiple occasions and a raft of sentencing options over the years.”