Mildura man Matthew Griffiths charged with alleged firearms and meth offending following police raid

Police claim a Mildura man stashed weapons including homemade guns and knives in his car and bedroom, before he was allegedly caught with meth weeks later.

Matthew Griffiths was allegedly caught with four grams of meth in his pocket when he was arrested as a passenger in a vehicle with no number plates in a Mildura laneway. Picture: Facebook

A man accused of possessing multiple firearms as a prohibited person was allegedly busted with four grams of meth in a laneway in Mildura, a court has heard.

Matthew Griffiths, 41, fronted Mildura Magistrates Court seeking bail over charges stemming from a police raid on a Hornsey Park address and an unrelated drug possession arrest.

The court heard that on May 14, police allegedly found multiple weapons, including an imitation firearm, an illegal knife, and a credit card gun in a bedroom they claimed belonged to Mr Griffiths.

A search of a black Holden Commodore at the same address allegedly uncovered a .22 calibre homemade firearm, a Winchester rifle, and a plastic bottle containing 1,4 Butanediol, commonly known as GHB.

A police raid on notorious Mildura street Hornsey Park allegedly uncovered weapons belonging to Mr Griffiths. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

Police alleged a woman at the property confirmed the vehicle belonged to Mr Griffiths.

Just over two weeks later, Mr Griffiths was arrested after police allegedly found him with four grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle without number plates.

When questioned by police, Mr Griffiths allegedly denied owning the vehicle containing the weapons, though said he owned an identical car.

Investigations revealed the vehicle wasn’t registered to the accused, but police maintained it belonged to Mr Griffiths.

Senior Constable Nicholas Dolling strongly opposed bail, highlighting Mr Griffiths’ alleged failure to rehabilitate.

“He has failed to rehabilitate … and should not be granted bail,” Constable Dolling said.

“This is the second time, nearly two years to the date, that the accused was (allegedly) found with illicit firearms.”

Police allegedly found multiple weapons at a Mildura address and inside a vehicle they believe to belong to Matthew Griffiths. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Manny Nicolosi argued his client hadn’t committed violent offences in more than a decade and proposed bail at Mr Griffiths’ parents’ Dareton home.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan queried the accused’s parents about providing a $10,000 surety due to his past failures to appear before the court when on bail, which they agreed to.

“The risk of him (failing to answer bail) is minimised by the involvement of his parents … being a babysitter for him will be some responsibility for you,” Mr Coghlan said.

Mr Coghlan also noted procedural delays as significant in his decision to grant bail.

Mr Griffiths was bailed with strict conditions, including a curfew, and is next slated to appear before the court on August 6.