Kilsyth South crim’s ridiculous claim about hidden rifle, $10k cash stash

A Kilsyth South crook has blamed former tenants for a secret roof hidey-hole, filled with cash and a stolen rifle.

The gun and cash was found in the roof cavity of his home. Picture: Supplied.

A cannabis trafficker who hid a stolen bolt action rifle and a Tupperware container holding more than $10,000 in cash in the roof cavity of a Kilsyth South home claims the weapon had been left there by a previous tenant.

David Scammell pleaded guilty to the gun possession in the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning.

The rifle and cash was found by police officers executing a search warrant on his Kilsyth South home at 6.30am on March 30, 2023.

A bolt action rifle was found in the hidden roof cavity. Picture: Supplied

The gun was found to have been stolen during a previous burglary but there was no indication Scammell stole the rifle.

Scammell, who has no valid firearms licence, told investigators he had “no idea” the gun was there.

“It must have been from the previous owners,” he said.

Magistrate Jason Ong said Scammell was a “cannabis trafficker” and he found the gun was for the purpose of criminal activity.

The court heard the gun, which has Scammell’s DNA on it, was not used but was designed to be used as “enforcement for him to go about his cannabis trafficking”.

Scammell was sentenced to a 20-month community corrections order with 120 hours of unpaid community work.