Shepparton Magistrates’ Court: Bailey Forrester pleads guilty to possession of unregistered firearm, possessing cocaine

Police spotted an “extremely nervous” Shepparton man climbing out of his bedroom window — and he had good reason to be as he was carrying a bag with a shotgun, ammo and cocaine.

Police allegedly found a sawn-off shotgun with the serial number removed and ammunition inside Bailey Forrester's bag. Picture: Supplied

A Shepparton man found by police hanging out his bedroom window in possession of a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition and ziplock bags of cocaine is yet to receive his punishment.

Bailey Forrester pleaded guilty at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to possessing a firearm without serial number, possessing prohibited firearm, possessing cartridge ammunition without licence, possessing cocaine, fail to comply with direction, storing firearm and ammunition in an insecure manner.

Police entered the 24-year-old’s property on July 10, searching for another man on an outstanding warrant, the court heard.

Police heard an item being thrown against the house and instead found Forrester hanging out of a bedroom window with a bag.

The court heard Forrester was “agitated” and “extremely nervous” when his “unexplainably heavy” bag was searched by police.

“Give me my bag, you can’t search that,” Forrester said at the time.

Police opened the bag and found an unregistered sawn-off shotgun with the serial number removed and ammunition.

Forrester was arrested and taken to the Shepparton police station.

Police also allegedly found ziplock bags of white powder. Picture: Supplied

Forrester also had zip lock bags of white powder believed to be cocaine, a black leather wallet with licences and eight keys inside the bag.

Police confirmed the white substance to be cocaine.

Forrester was interviewed and remanded to appear at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in late July, and was further remanded on August 7.

Police also seized Forrester’s mobile phone, refused to give them the passcode and made no comment when he was asked questions, the court heard.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said on August 7 the latest charges were “pretty serious”.

Forrester was also previously charged for possessing an imitation firearm on another occasion in July and was placed on a community corrections order (CCO).

Forrester’s defence lawyer Shana McDonald told the court on Thursday Forrester spent a lot of his time being homeless as a teenager.

Ms McDonald said he doesn’t excuse his behaviour and has been in custody since July 10.

“I’ve experienced a lot of trauma in my life but at the end of the day I know right from wrong,” Forrester told Ms McDonald.

Ms McDonald said it was a “moment of panic” for Forrester when he was spotted by police in his bedroom.

Forrester also engaged in an aboriginal art program and an Adapt Careers program, the court heard.

Magistrate Alexandra Burt said the offending was “really troubling”.

“It involves a firearm in the community — it’s obvious what the risks are,” Ms Burt said.

She was “concerned and disappointed” Forrester had reoffended while he was on a community corrections order.

“The decision you have made on this occasion is not a move in the right direction,” Ms Burt said.

Forrester was remanded to appear at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in September where his sentence will be determined.