Dylan Riske faces Ballarat court for firing shotgun in Smythes Creek to ward off balaclava-wearing men

A Smythes Creek man fired a stolen shotgun into the air after seeing balaclava-wearing strangers trying to break into his vehicles, a court has heard.

Dylan Riske faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court over his firing of a shotgun in Smythes Creek. Photo: File

A Ballarat man found a stolen gun and fired it to deter would-be balaclava-clad burglars from his property, a court has heard.

Smythes Creek man Dylan Riske, 30, faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on August 1 and pleaded guilty to six charges including using a firearm in a dangerous manner.

The court heard that at 6am on May 31, 2024, Riske had a dispute with unknown people at his front door.

He went inside, retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from his wardrobe, brandished it, and fired two shots into the air.

Neighbours called triple-0 when they heard the shots.

Riske’s lawyer told the court three men wearing black balaclavas had asked Riske that night whether he had seen a dog.

When he said no, they walked away and Riske then saw them trying to get into cars on the property.

This led to his getting the gun, which the court heard was stolen, and firing warning shots.

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said firing a gun in a suburban street was “extremely serious offending”.

“He finds a firearm in the woods … he then keeps that firearm and stores it whilst not licensed,” he said.

Riske will be sentenced on August 21.