Matthew Oliver: Kanahooka dad sentenced for drug supply after loaded gun found in his pants

Police discovered a loaded shotgun down an Illawarra dad’s pants, as well as wads of cash and drugs following a dramatic night time chase.

A Kanahooka man is “lucky to be alive” and will remain behind bars for more than three years after he admitted to supplying meth when police busted him riding a motorbike while unlicensed with a loaded gun stuffed down his pants.

Matthew Oliver, 27, faced Wollongong District Court on Friday where he was sentenced for multiple charges including possessing a firearm, supply a prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, assault an officer, resist an officer, drive unregistered and possess ammunition.

Oliver had been on a night time motorbike ride on Wyndarra Way just before 9.30pm March 5, 2020 when police spotted him pull into a driveway, the court heard.

Cash found on Matthew Oliver’s person at the lime of his arrest. Picture: NSW Police.

Oliver noticed the officers and pulled out of the driveway, accelerating “harshly”, as police took off after him. He then dumped his motorbike on a vacant block in Walborn Crescent as police chased him.

When they caught up to the 27-year-old, documents say Oliver punched an officer in the arm before he was tacked to the ground as he “thrashed his body around”.

Officers yelled “give us your hands” before one policeman noticed the firearm on Oliver’s body, yelling “gun”.

Stuffed down Oliver’s pants was a Baikal brand 410 shortened, single-barrel shotgun, with court documents revealing the barrel was loaded and pointed at his face when police found it.

As they held Oliver on the ground they also found two bags, one of which contained 67.54g of meth divided into three smaller bags, $2700 cash, scales and small resealable bags, as well as another bag containing six rounds of Remington ‘Shurshot’ shotgun ammunition.

Drugs found during the dramatic arrest. Picture: NSW Police

Oliver was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where police also discovered the motorcycle was displaying false license plates and that Oliver has never held a drivers license.

During Oliver’s sentencing on Friday, Judge Andrew Haesler acknowledged the 27-year-old had a troubled upbringing, which led to offending.

“He started using drugs and engaged in a lifestyle associated with drug use, and when he was let out on parole he quickly adopted habits prior to his earlier arrest,” he said.

“[But] the fact he was in possession of a firearm, had ammunition and drugs … the offender was not thinking about himself with the way he was driving and when he crashed there was a loaded shotgun with a barrel facing his head.”

“He’s lucky to be alive.”

Judge Haesler said Oliver posed “serious harm” to the community especially carrying a loaded firearm while also supplying meth.

“If he continues on his present trajectory he could spend the rest of his life in jail,” he said.

The father-of-four has been in prison on and off since 2017 and barely has a relationship with any of his four children, the court heard.

Judge Haesler said there was a strong chance Oliver could either end up dead or spend most of his life behind bars if he doesn’t “get his act together”.

“Unless he grows up his future looks bleak,” Judge Haesler said.

Oliver was given an aggregate sentence of four years and six months, with a non parole period of three years and three months, beginning on June 5, 2020.

He will be eligible from parole on September 4, 2023.