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South East
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A man was found to be storing guns in his yard and in his bedroom after his concerned father rang police, a court has heard.
Alistair Lester had bought a rifle from a drinker at a local pub and took it home, hiding it under a pigeon coop.
And he also had another weapon — a shotgun — wrapped in a sheet which was found under his bed.
The 40-year-old unemployed concreter pleaded guilty to charges of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard in August 2019 police received a call from Lester’s dad saying he was worried his son had access to guns.
Officers went to their Somerville home and were directed towards a pigeon coop in the rear of the yard.
Underneath that they uncovered a longarm rifle wrapped in a sheet.
When they then searched Lester’s bedroom they also found a shotgun under his bed.
And in his car they came across two bags, each containing ammunition for the firearms.
He told police he bought one of the guns “from a guy I met at the pub” but didn’t disclose where the other came from.
Defence lawyer Hannah Fink said Lester’s long-term relationship had recently ended and he was experiencing a mental health issue.
She said the father of three didn’t intend to hurt anyone with the guns, and purposely kept the ammunition in a separate place.
She said her client was very remorseful and in a much more stable state of mind now.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said she had “grave concerns”.
“You were in possession of not one, but two firearms,” Ms Prapas said.
“One was hidden under a bed, the other under a pigeon coop.
“They were readily accessible”.
She said although these offences were a while ago and “his life looks a lot different now”, she warned him any repeat would likely result in him ending up behind bars.
Lester was convicted and fined $3000.
