Ararat groundskeeper Ike Richards had sawn-off rifles, forbidden three-edged knife

An Ararat groundskeeper was found with two sawn-off rifles, a three-edged knife, and a bum bag of meth after he tried to escape from police dogs.

Ararat man Ike Richards, 29, faced Ballarat County Court for having a trafficable quantity of firearms. Photo: File

An Ararat grounds maintenance worker who ran from police and was chased down by their dogs after he stole a wallet was found with two sawn-off rifles and a prohibited knife only four months into a community correction order.

Ike Jonathon Richards, 29, appeared at Ballarat County Court by video on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to a series of charges including possession of a trafficable quantity of firearms.

The court heard that in November 2022, Richards drove to the Ararat home of a man he knew and stole a wallet that one of the residents had dropped out the front.

The wallet contained a bank card, driver’s licence, boat licence, and $1500 cash.

Richards then drove a motorbike off the property without an appropriate licence.

The car he had driven to the home was later found to be bearing a stolen number plate.

When officers came to arrest Richards from an Alfredton property, he fled and was chased down by police dogs, which latched onto his arm.

In Richards’ possession, police then found a bum bag with 14.2g of methamphetamine, two sawn-off rifles in the passenger footwell of a car, and a three-edged knife in a scabbard.

The court heard Richards had worked at abattoirs and for an events hire company.

Judge Damian Murphy told him he had “effectively blown some of the best years of (his) life”.

Richards was sentenced to two years’ and nine months’ imprisonment, and will be eligible for parole after 20 months.

He has already served 569 days.