Donna Teage sentenced after police seized guns, drugs from Stockyard Creek property

A Rural Fire Service volunteer revealed she used rifles for “pest control” on her property and cultivated drugs to manage pain. See what happened when she faced court.

Donna Teage was sentenced at Grafton Local Court after police seized guns and drugs from her Stockyard Creek address.

After police raided a Clarence address and seized two rifles and drugs, a court heard an accused used the guns for pest control.

Donna Mary Teage, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, one count of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of cultivating prohibited plant (indictable quantity) and faced Grafton Local Court on Monday.

Police raided Teage’s Stockyard Creek in January and seized five guns, 14 cannabis plants and 37g of cannabis.

Two of the .22 long rifles belonged to Teage.

The 14 plants had a street value of about $14,000, according to police facts.

Teage’s co-accused, Lloyd Herbert Death was refused bail and will face Grafton Local Court on March 20.

He is facing 18 drug and firearm charges with no formal pleas entered.

Police raided Teage’s Stockyard Creek in January and seized five guns, 14 cannabis plants and 37g of cannabis. Two of the .22 rifles belonged to Teage. Picture: Coffs Clarence Police

A police dog found resealable bags containing cannabis in a tin.

Teage’s lawyer, Jesse Kelly, said his client’s rural property was plagued with pests and she used the guns to manage them.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said she was “concerned” about firearms in the community.

“I understand there are a great deal of pests where she lives but there are other solutions for pest control,” Ms Crofts said.

Mr Kelly said Teage intended to obtain a firearm licence and register the gun.

He said Teage suffered from osteoarthritis and was receiving disability support.

Ms Crofts said Teage’s physical condition put the drug cultivation charge “into context”.

Donna Teage was sentenced at Grafton Local Court after police seized guns and drugs from her Stockyard Creek address.

“There are other solutions to manage pain,” Ms Crofts said.

She said it appeared out of character for a woman who was thought highly of in the community as an RFS volunteer.

“The town needs people like you in times of bushfire and flood when people need to pull together,” Ms Crofts said.

The court heard Teage had served on the frontline during fires, and references spoke highly of her.

“You are community minded and have done a lot for the town. I commend that,” Ms Crofts said.

Mr Kelly said it was “unlikely she’ll be back before the court again”.

Teage was convicted with a nine-month community corrections order for the unauthorised firearm and fined $400 for drug cultivation.