Coffs Harbour man’s horde of prohibited weapons, suspected stolen goods

A Coffs Harbour man whose secret stash of suspected stolen goods included throwing knives, tasers, a baton and a souvenir picture of Ed Sheeran has avoided prison.

Josh Daryl Hallgath outside Coffs Harbour Local Court after being sentenced to a two-year community correction order and 150 hours of community service work.

A Coffs Harbour man whose secret stash of suspected stolen goods included throwing knives and a souvenir picture of Ed Sheeran has avoided prison after a court heard he turned his life around.

Josh Daryl Hallgath, 30, was sentenced in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to a string of charges including five counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit and two counts of goods suspected stolen in/on premises.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said the items in question were valued at tens of thousands of dollars, but all of the goods were recovered.

Police raided a Toormina storage shed in Hallgath’s name on March 18, 2021 and found a gel blaster, three tasers, two trench knives an extendible black baton and a butterfly knife.

A police raid at a Toormina storage shed in Hallgath’s name uncovered a gel blaster, three tasers, two trench knives an extendible black baton and a butterfly knife - and an Ed Sheeran memorabilia picture. File image. Picture: Image/Josh Woning

Their search also uncovered a Fender electric guitar, jack hammer, opals, jewellery and an Ed Sheeran memorabilia picture, according to court documents.

Officers also found two watches and a pen reported stolen from a Sapphire Beach address.

Police arrested Hallgath at his Boambee East home, and searched the premises, where they found cash, jewellery, power tools and a bottle of wine valued at $1500.

Hallgath told officers he traded items for much of the property, but could not provide them with any further information about the exchanges, according to court documents.

Defence lawyer Tony Cox told the court his client’s offending was an aberration.

“He was severely addicted to drugs (at the time),: Mr Cox said, adding “he’s totally turned his life around”.

Mr Cox said Hallgath had not offended in the past two years, gained a driver’s licence and picked up work as a mature age apprentice tiler.

Josh Daryl Hallgath outside the court.

He said his client obtained the gel blaster in Queensland, where they were legal.

Ms Hamilton said Hallgath supplied a letter to the court, which explained the offending occurred as a result of his drug addiction at the time.

Hallgath was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community correction order and 150 hours of community service work.