Werribee’s Ben Cary Hills to spend another month behind bars after failed bail application at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court

A Werribee man banned from possessing a firearm was denied bail after a loaded shotgun and baton were found at his girlfriend’s house in Melbourne’s west.

Ben Cary Hills was denied bail following an appearance at Sunshine Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied.

A Werribee man was denied bail despite spending almost 100 days behind bars after a loaded shotgun and baton were found at his girlfriend’s place.

Ben Cary Hills was charged after police found a loaded shotgun and anabolic steroids during a search of his partner’s Weir Views property in April.

Police allege the 36-year-old — who is subject to a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) — was in possession of the weapon when it was found inside a vehicle at the back of the property.

On Tuesday, he appeared via videolink for his bail application at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court where Magistrate Kay Robertson determined he posed an unacceptable risk.

Hills has been in custody for 95 days following the April 14 search, and will remain inside for another month ahead of a contest mention.

Ms Robertson conceded there were exceptional circumstances in the matter after reading from a health report and accepted submissions from Mr Hills’ partner that she would contact police if he breached bail conditions.

However, Ms Robertson said community safety outweighed submissions by Mr Hills’ lawyer.

He was charged with possessing a firearm and cartridge ammunition while an FPO applied, as well as possessing a weapon as a prohibited person, ammunition without a licence, an extendible baton without an exemption, and anabolic steroids.

The matter was adjourned to August 30.