Watanobbi: John Bradley Ross, 58, sentenced for supplying drugs and possessing replica pistol
An unemployed grandfather, who offset his carer’s pension by supplying cannabis and meth, told police a pistol they found near his front door was a “Ned Kelly replica”, a court has heard.
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An unemployed pensioner has been sentenced after pleading guilty to supplying drugs, dealing with the proceeds of crime and possessing an unauthorised pistol.
John Bradley Ross, of Watanobbi, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to a two-year community correction order, fined $500 and put on an intensive correction order (ICO) for 20 months.
An ICO is considered the equivalent of a jail sentence but served in the community.
It comes after police were granted a warrant to raid the 58-year-old’s home on McKell Ave on November 1 last year.
“Near the front door of the residence police located and seized a replica firearm,” an agreed set of facts states.
“The offender was cautioned and asked questions about the firearm. The offender stated ‘it’s a Ned Kelly replica’ from a display piece.
“The offender was given the opportunity to produce the rest of the display but was unable to do so.”
On a dining table against a wall in the living room, police saw a TV monitor which was streaming feeds from several CCTV cameras set up around the outside of the house.
Also on the table were several small resealable plastic bags, rubber bands, scales and handwritten notes with various amounts on them.
Police also seized 219g of cannabis, 16.8g of meth and $3730 in cash, which was the proceeds of crime.
Officers found an iPad with a Facebook conversation in which Ross organised to supply drugs to a woman.
He was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where he underwent an electronically recorded interview.
He maintained his story about the gun being a Ned Kelly replica, despite the modern-looking pistol appearing to be from a completely different century.
Ross told police the cannabis was for his personal use, as was the meth, which he said was “speed or goey” but generally denied supplying drugs.
He told them he had lots of cash lying around but admitted he was unemployed and on a carer’s pension.
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