Andrew Cutajar fronts court on drugs and firearms charges
A drug deal involving a gun at Seymour went horribly wrong when the drug buyer realised he’d been sold a gel blaster rather than a real weapon.
Goulburn Valley
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A drug deal turned sour after a Melbourne man realised he’d been given a gel blaster instead of a handgun.
Andrew Cutajar sold one ounce of meth to a man from Footscray for $5000 plus a gun in Seymour on November 3, 2023 but when Cutajar realised it was a gel blaster, not a real gun, he decided to get his money back.
Plans were made to meet up with the meth buyer at Rothwell Cemetery in Little River where Cutajar arrived with a bolt action rifle.
Cutajar handed the rifle to an acquaintance upon arrival and started throwing punches at the man who then agreed to do an unspecified job to repay him the purchase price of the fake handgun.
Cutajar, 45, of Footscray, pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking in a drug of dependence, possessing an imitation firearm and a firearm, being armed with criminal intent and common assault.
He was sentenced in the County Court to 16 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a community corrections order for 18 months.
Judge Peter Rozen said the man Cutajar assaulted and an acquaintance discussed ways to finance the purchase of meth in Seymour on November 3, 2023 and allegedly stole a handgun to sell in exchange for the drug.
He and two others allegedly broke into a house and stole a 9mm handgun and a homemade 22mm gun. They were unaware the handgun was an imitation firearm.
Seymour woman Chantelle Pearse organised for Cutajar to drive from Point Cook to Seymour to purchase the gun.
Pearse pleaded guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to trafficking meth, recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.
She will be sentenced on September 24.
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