Matthew Griffiths charged with possession of guns, drugs in Mildura court

A Mildura adrenaline junkie who allegedly challenged cops to race when they tried to pull him over has faced court.

Matthew Griffiths challenged the Police office to a race down Deakin Ave.

Challenging a police offer to a race didn’t go well for a Mildura adrenaline junkie, who faced court after police allegedly discovered guns, drugs and ammunition at his home.

The Mildura Magistrates’ Court heard Matthew Griffiths was riding his motorcycle on Deakin Ave on December 5, 2022 when police pulled him over as he had outstanding warrants.

Mr Griffiths then flipped up his visor and asked police if they “wanna race” before taking off down Deakin Ave, the court heard.

Just three months later, police allege Mr Griffiths was intercepted going 100km/h in an 80km/h zone and when police gave chase he did a burnout and took off down the street.

Police found the car out the front of Mr Griffith’s house but he said he’d been working on it for a few days so it couldn’t have been driven, the court heard.

However, the most significant charges against Mr Griffith’s came after police searched his house and allegedly found a bag of weed, an OxyContin pill, methamphetamine, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and three firearms.

Two of the firearms were later agreed to be imitation firearms, and Mr Griffiths challenged that the third was also imitation.

Mr Griffith’s lawyer Peter Delorenzo said he had been instructed the third gun didn’t function due to a missing firing pin.

“I’m told in relation to the more serious charge that the firearm was missing a firing pin making it only an imitation firearm,” he said.

However, the police prosecutor disagreed.

“The report from a ballistic expert states that it meets the criteria for a functioning fire arm under the Act, ” she said.

Magistrate Patrick Southey said the issue of the firearm needed to be resolved before the atter could continue.

It was listed for a contest mention on October 10.