Nathan Marry Timpson: Waterview Heights man convicted of firearm, drug offences in Grafton Local Court

A magistrate has told a Clarence man busted with a stash of guns and drugs that the courts “constantly” see firearms “stolen from rural properties” – and it was “infantile” to think he was immune to the trend.

Timpson was found with firearms. File picture.

A young man busted with a stash of illegal guns and drugs narrowly avoided further time behind bars after his “infantile thinking” was slammed by a magistrate in court.

Waterview Heights man Nathan Timpson, 24, fronted Grafton Local Court on Monday.

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol, three counts of not keeping a firearm safely and three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition without a licence, acquiring an unauthorised firearm and cultivating cannabis plants.

Nathan Timpson outside Grafton Local Court.

The court previously heard Timpson was living in a property near Grafton with at least five others at the time of offending.

When police arrived at the property on March 30, they found Timpson “asleep on a lounge in an open shed” about 10am, according to court documents.

Soon after, officers spotted three .22 calibre rounds in Timpson’s back pocket and placed him under arrest.

Timpson was arrested after police found ammunition.

It was only the beginning of what officers would unearth on the property.

Police found “a rifle with a scope attached … leaning against a wall”, as well as more ammo, a modified Glock pistol in a red toolbox, a “freshly oiled” rifle and a black Desert Eagle-style gel blaster pistol, the court was told.

Timpson did not hold a firearms licence or permit at the time.

Police also found 0.8 grams of methamphetamines, more than half a kilogram (586 grams) of cannabis leaves, 11.5g of cannabis seeds and five plants.

In court, Timpson’s defence said had a difficult upbringing and struggled with substance abuse after he started self-medicating.

After being charged, Timpson attended rehab and taken up residence on 140 acres of land, which he planned to use to grow fruit trees with his family, the court heard.

Nathan Timpson on the move outside court.

Magistrate Roger Prowse said although Timpson had suffered from “some issues” when he was younger, “nine billion (people) also suffer … (and) of them 8.9 billion don’t think to commit crimes”.

“There is no causal link between those factors and you going out and committing these offences,” he said.

Mr Prowse said Timpson’s belief no one would steal the firearms because he lived in the country was “infantile thinking” and the courts “constantly” see “firearms being stolen from rural properties”.

Timpson was convicted of all offences and sentenced to 18-months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 29 weeks and three days.

The sentence included time already spent in custody on remand and Timpson will serve the rest of his sentence in the community.