Rodney Graham Unicomb in Taree court on guns, violence charges

Police responding to a Triple 0 call uncovered an arsenal of unregistered and prohibited guns in a Mid-North Coast home - under a bed and in a wardrobe.

Taree Police Station.

An arsenal of guns were found stashed throughout a Mid-North Coast home – including weapons stored under a bed and in a shipping container – following calls to Triple 0 during a ‘serious’ domestic-violence related incident.

Police uncovered 20 guns, including some with silencers and a prohibited bolt action shotgun repeater rifle with silencer, after a woman called Triple 0 following an assault by her partner.

Rodney Graham Unicomb was arrested and charged before appearing at Taree Local court on Wednesday, where police were criticised by local court magistrate Allison Hawkins over the charges laid.

Ms Hawkins raised questions about each of the charges referring to a single weapon but as she told the court - “There are just such a lot of firearms”.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault (domestic violence); not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm; possess unregistered firearm-not pistol/prohibited firearm; and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.

Rodney Unicomb at Taree Local Court on March 1.

According to police facts Unicomb’s partner had moved into his Nowendoc Road home at Knorrit Flat about a year ago.

On the night of the alleged incident on February 7 he had been out, and after returning home and eating dinner, he started abusing the victim telling her “I want you gone” and slapped both her ears.

According to police facts the abuse continued with him saying “I want you gone, you’re no good to me anymore.”

The victim allegedly said “I can’t go anywhere, I live here.”

It was then that he allegedly punched her in the face, leaving her with a bloody split lip.

She called Triple 0 but Unicomb was unable to be formally interviewed due to his alleged level of intoxication but according to police records he admitted to the assault at the time.

When police searched the home they allegedly uncovered three rifles under the bed and 15 in an unlocked wardrobe in a shipping container.

The high powered weapons included double barrel shot guns and lever, bolt and break action firearms. Many were fitted with silencers.

Only 10 of the firearms were registered in his name.

All 20 of the guns were seized by police.

Unicomb is currently on bail and will return to court on March 23 for sentencing.