Jason Townsend: Nowra man busted with multiple modified firearms jailed

A man who “hears voices” as a result of a brain injury has been jailed after he was busted hoarding homemade and modified guns in a South Coast garden shed.

Police uncovered multiple modified guns inside Townsend's garden shed. Pictures: Generic, file

A man with a history of firearm offences who “hears voices” as a result of a brain injury has been jailed after he was busted hoarding homemade and modified guns in a South Coast garden shed.

Jason Townsend, 55, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in jail with a non-parole period of 29 months in Nowra District Court on Thursday, after previously pleading guilty to possessing an unauthorised firearm, acquiring ammunition, acquiring firearm parts and two counts of acquiring firearms.

The “serious” gun offences stem from a police raid on his Nowra home on March 18, 2024, when officers uncovered multiple illegal firearms stashed in a garden shed.

Agreed facts state officers uncovered “bags” of firearm parts, as well as a homemade one shot pistol, homemade firearm parts, gel blasters and ammunition.

However, this was not Townsend’s first rodeo in relation to illegal firearms offences, with the court hearing he was previously convicted on two counts of possessing prohibited firearms.

His lawyer, Brett Ford, argued Townsend struggled to grasp that continuing to acquire and store prohibited weapons was illegal due to a brain injury he suffered in 2015.

Jason Townsend appeared in Nowra District Court on Wednesday. Picture: John Appleyard

A letter penned by Townsend – with assistance from others – explained the injury caused serious comprehension issues and has resulted in him “hearing voices”.

Judge William Fitzsimmons was presented the letter which also apologised for the firearm findings.

“He seems to be genuinely remorseful,” he said.

However, the Crown prosecutor labelled the case “extremely concerning”, noting the firearms had been extensively modified, with some having the ability to fire multiple projectiles at once.

Following the March 2024 raid, Townsend was arrested, charged and refused bail given his criminal history and previous gun related convictions.

He has remained in custody since.

In court, Mr Ford urged Judge Fitzsimmons to consider a mental health treatment plan upon his client’s release, but conceded full-time custody was inevitable, given Townsend’s record and the severity of the finds.

Judge Fitzsimmons said he would consider Townsend’s fragile mental health, stating an injury such as his would make custody difficult.

He also noted while the firearm find was serious, there was no evidence Townsend had any sinister plans with the guns, with agreed facts stating they were not loaded.

Despite this, Judge Fitzsimmons said Townsend’s history did not assist him.

“Full time imprisonment is the only appropriate punishment,” he said.

Townsend was convicted and handed the full time custody sentence.

With time already served, Townsend will be eligible for release on August 17, 2026.

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