Peter Euan Starr sentenced after growing weed for mates and possessing firearm

A homeless man is behind bars after police found him along the river with an illegal firearm and nearly 20 cannabis plants.

Kohlhagens Beach. Picture – Google Maps.

A homeless man who set up camp on the bank of a river after he admitted to taking care if 17 cannbis plants and possessing a pistol.

Peter Euan Starr, 56, was sentenced to 12 months in jail in Wagga Local Court on November 25, after he was pleading guilty to cultivating and possessing a prohibited plant, possessing a firearm in a public place, possessing a firearm without a permit, possessing an unregistered firearm without authority, possessing ammunition without a license and for not taking reasonable precautions to keep the firearm in a safe place.

Court documents reveal police paid Starr a visit at Kohlhagens Beach, Yarragundry at 8am on September 8, after police were alerted to the man’s situation by a member of the public.

On arrival police discovered Starr at the beach with a Toyota Rav4, trailer and makeshift house.

Starr appeared at Wagga Local Court.

Police struck up a conversation with Starr and questioned him in relation to the possession of cannabis plants and firearm.

Starr made admissions to having 17 plants, showing them to police before he was arrested.

“Yeah they are mine, I water them and look after them,” he told the officers.

“Grow them for another six weeks and then smoke em and give it to friends.”

Court documents reveal Starr then informed police that a firearm was located under his camp chair wrapped in a towel.

Upon inspection police discovered the .22 calibre firearm appeared to be loaded.

Police also found 42 rounds of ammunition and 11 cannabis seeds in the man‘s makeshift camp.

Starr was conveyed to Wagga Police Station where he admitted to all offences.

Today, the court heard he had been on the disability support pension for about two decades and had rarely lived in a home.

Magistrate Chris Halburd told the court he understood Starr was living on the river bank at the time of his arrest and that there was no suggestion Starr was gaining profit from the plants.

However, the Magistrate Halburd told the court Starr’s possession of the firearm was troubling.

“An item like that has no place at all in the community,” Magistrate Halburd told the court.

“He has a record that does not entitle him to any leniency.

“ … only appropriate penalty is one of imprisonment,” he told the court.

Magistrate Halburd sentenced Starr to 12 months in prison with a non parole period of 6 months.

He will be eligible for parole on March 7.