Lloyd Death: Stockyard Creek man pleads guilty to firearm, cannabis offences in Grafton District Court

A former Rural Fire Service employee guilty of drug and gun offences after North Coast raids became “a hermit” and self-medicated with cannabis after he was attacked by a pit bull and stabbed.

Grafton District Court. Picture: Adam Hourigan.

A former Rural Fire Service worker guilty of drug and gun offences after North Coast raids became “a hermit” and self-medicated with cannabis after he was attacked by a pit bull and stabbed on separate occasions.

Stockyard Creek father Lloyd Death, 50, fronted Grafton District Court via videolink.

Death pleaded guilty to having four unauthorised firearms, possessing a stolen rifle, receiving a stolen caravan, dishonestly possessing a trailer, supplying 350 grams of cannabis and cultivating 223 cannabis plants.

Some of the ammo found at Death’s property. Picture: NSW Police.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing ammo without a license and four counts of having suspected stolen goods.

The court heard Death had been living alone on a country block with his elderly father residing in a neighbouring “bush block”.

Police discovered the firearms and cannabis when they visited his property on January 17.

Death has spent nine months behind bars on remand since then.

In court, Death said his mental health deteriorated after he was stabbed and bashed at work.

It was not made clear whether that occurred while employed by the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

“(My) paranoia about being re-assaulted was great,” he said.

The court was also told some years after that attack a man known to Death set a pit bull on to him and his thumb was ripped off.

Death said he became increasingly like “a hermit” and turned to cannabis to cope.

Police raided Death’s property in January. Picture: Generic.

Judge Paul McGuire asked Death why he had a shotgun in his living room.

Death said a friend loaned him the gun after he was assaulted.

He also told the court he received some firearms in exchange for cannabis.

Death’s defence lawyer described him as remorseful, eager to reintegrate back into society and to receive treatment for chronic depression and anxiety.

The court was told Death endured a difficult time in custody and his property was ransacked while he was in jail.

The prosecution fought for a jail-term to be handed down and spoke of the seriousness of the gun in the living room.

The court heard on Tuesday that Death had been convicted of possessing an unauthorised firearm in 2015 and he had Queensland offences on his record dating back to the 1990s.

Judge McGuire reserved judgement until December 15.