Paul Gruber: Berowra man has bail revoked for illegal gun importations

After years of delays an arrest warrant has been issued for a father-of-two who lived a secret double life until he was sprung stockpiling a deadly stash of weapons in Sydney’s upper north shore.

A father-of-two and married disability pensioner from Sydney’s leafy north shore has had a warrant issued for his arrest — despite it being over three years since he was sprung leading a double life as a major gun importer.

On Monday Berowra man Paul Leslie Gruber, 46, was once again not present at court after pleading guilty to a string of firearms related charges including importing weapons, possessing unregistered firearms, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, acquiring a firearm without the authority to do so, acquiring a pistol part and purchasing a pistol part.

But the 46-year-old’s family — his mother, wife and son — were present at Downing District Court as Judge John Pickering granted a detention application, revoking Gruber’s bail and ensuring he will find himself behind bars once he leaves involuntary care at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Gruber’s arrest warrant has been a long time coming, as his case crawled through the courts and his sentencing was adjourned time and time again.

The Berowra man’s secret double life as a gun importer, who stockpiled a deadly stash of firearms and ammunition, first came crashing down in August 2019 when he stepped off a flight from China and straight into the custody of waiting AFP officers.

Paul Gruber (right) pleaded guilty to a series of gun importation offences in the Downing Centre Court in 2020. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

A court previously heard Gruber posed as a buyer in Florida to send guns back to his leafy upper north shore home in an elaborate scheme.

According to documents tendered to court, the father-of-two would import the items under the label “car parts”.

Some of the guns the AFP found.

Gruber imported the firearms from Florida.

Law enforcement caught the 46-year-old out by intercepting Telegram messages and tracking shipments from several addresses in Florida to Gruber’s northern Sydney home.

When the AFP searched a garage rented out by Gruber, they located two rifles, a pistol and almost 1000 rounds of ammunition, court documents reveal.

Since the dramatic bust, Gruber’s sentencing has repeatedly been adjourned due to him suffering from a range of mental health issues.

On Monday the defence lawyer, Mr Javid Faiz, told the court his client once again could not be present because he had received an email on December 4 informing him Gruber was in hospital, this time as an involuntary patient following a suicide attempt.

Paul Gruber. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

Mr Faiz said his client would eventually need to attend court and did not oppose the detention application, stating he was in the court’s hands as how best to proceed.

Judge Pickering told the court he had been “very reluctant” in the past to issue a warrant for the 46-year-old’s arrest as he did not want “to push anything that could create more self harm issues for Mr Gruber”.

The court heard whenever the matter was relisted for sentencing, it would trigger severe stress in the father-of-two who had been previously diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

“However at some stage all things have to come to an end,” Judge Pickering said. “ (Mr Gruber) cannot just continue to live in this in-between world that he currently is in — it just makes it worse”.

Judge Pickering issued the detention application stating full-time custody is “just about certain” in this matter and Gruber’s mental health can be dealt with in custody.

“No matter what the situation is with Mr Gruber’s mental health … you just can’t stay out of custody until you feel better,” Judge Pickering said.

Unless there are further developments, the matter will be relisted for mention on January 30, 2023.