Police raid uncovers metal knuckledusters, street sign in Gold Coast home

A Gold Coast dad has faced court after police found metal knuckledusters and a stolen street sign among a raft of other items during a raid of his home.

An Upper Coomera father has been slapped with a hefty fine after police found metal knuckledusters, a stolen street sign and cannabis during a raid of his home.

Benjamen John Guthrie Shields pleaded guilty to a string of charges in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, including drug possession and weapon possession.

During a raid on May 27, police found the metal knuckledusters in a draw located in a common room of the 31-year-old’s home.

A Gold Coast City Council street sign reported as stolen was found hung up on a wall and 2.4g of cannabis was found in containers in a converted garage, the court was told.

Shields told police the items were not his and stated he used to have “parties with a fair few people” in his home.

The 31-year-old told police he didn’t realise the street sign was stolen and thought it was fake.

Defence lawyer Sinead Garland, of Potts Lawyers, said her client’s charges were “towards the lower end of the scale” when viewed independently.

Ms Garland said Shields had previously associated with the wrong crowd, but had since met his wife and become a father.

She said the 31-year-old had a good employment history and worked as a field manager.

“In my respectful submission, he’s turned a pretty important corner in his life in getting his life back on track,” Ms Garland said.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie fined Shields $1200.

Convictions were not recorded.

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