Jeremy Cooper: Junction Hill man to be sentenced for gun-related offences after Bunnings car park sting

A northern NSW man sold thousands of dollars of guns to a man he later found out was an undercover police officer. Here’s what happened.

Cooper was busted illegally selling guns. ​

A northern NSW man caught selling thousands of dollars of guns in an elaborate Bunnings sting operation told a court his actions were “a means to an end” to fund his drug addiction.

On Wednesday, Junction Hill man Jeremy Cooper, 30, faced Grafton District Court and spoke of his struggles in a bid to avoid jail-time.

He pleaded guilty to a string of firearm-related offences, including manufacturing a prohibited firearm, unlawfully selling firearms on multiple occasions and supplying a shortened double barrel shotgun.

Cooper sold eight firearms – ranging from shortened double-barrel shotgun to a bolt action rifle – over a four-month period.

He collected more than $16,000 in cash from a man he believed he could trust, but who turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Jeremy Cooper outside Grafton Courthouse.

Cooper first arranged to meet the man in the car park of Bunnings Warehouse, Grafton to talk about the sale of guns on March 15, 2022.

10 days later, Cooper sold the undercover cop a gun he manufactured, receiving $800 for the single shot .22 calibre gun with a Glock pistol base, the court was told.

It was the first of many purchases over the coming months.

Cooper’s world came crashing down when police arrested him on August 1.

Cooper met with an undercover police officer in the car park of a Bunnings Warehouse.

He spoke to Judge Clive Jeffreys in court and said his best friend had died in a car crash and he had been using methamphetamines daily to “self-medicate” at the time of offending.

“I was lost for a long time. I lost my best friend so it was all very hard,” Mr Cooper said.

He told the court his perspective was clouded because “every living minute of my day revolved around using ice”

“At the time of the (firearms) supply, it was more a means to an end for my drug addiction,” he said.

Jeremy Cooper.

Cooper’s defence barrister told the court his client quit using ice, was employed as a cook at a Grafton pub and was remorseful.

“He was suffering a severe poly-substance abuse problem, combined with a gambling addiction,” the court heard.

Cooper told the court he had gained insight into his offending, which he described as “dangerous”.

The prosecution argued Cooper should be jailed because his ability and willingness to manufacture and sell firearms posed a danger to the community.

Judge Jeffreys said he was “not settled at all” and needed time to consider a sentence.

His decision is due to be handed down on August 18.

Originally published as Jeremy Cooper: Junction Hill man to be sentenced for gun-related offences after Bunnings car park sting