Christopher Foy pleads guilty to gun possession, drug-driving, criminal damage

A gun was found in the home of a convicted drug dealer a day after several bullets were fired into a Norlane home and a magistrate has warned the man he needs to change his ways.

Christopher Foy in 2021. Picture: Alison Wynd

A gun was found wrapped in a bedsheet in the home of a convicted drug dealer, a day after several bullets were fired into a Norlane home, a court has heard.

Christopher Foy, 33, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink on Monday, and pleaded guilty to charges including dealing with the suspected proceeds of crime, criminal damage, possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, possessing ammunition and failing to answer bail.

He also pleaded guilty to speeding, drug-driving, careless driving, unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, failing to stop after an accident, failing to display his L plates and being a learner driver without supervision.

The court heard several bullets were fired into the rear of a home in Norlane on July 9 last year.

The bullets were fired over the back fence from the rear carport of a neighbouring house, where a friend of Foy’s lived.

Foy’s Thomson home was raided the next day, where police found a loaded .22 firearm on the couch, wrapped in a bedsheet, with ammunition found on the floor and in a Gucci bag,

In the laundry police found ice in one ziplock bag and $5075.30 cash in another.

Foy told police his friend had shown him the gun and acknowledged he was at his friend’s house, admitted to handling the gun and “toying around” with the trigger, but denied firing it.

A month earlier, Foy damaged property belonging to a 17-year-old girl he’d been in a “relationship” with, headbutting a fence and threatening to smash a window, after she “wouldn’t give (his) stuff back”.

In May last year, Foy was clocked hurtling down Corio Quay Rd at 109km/h with ice and cannabis in his system, two months after his learner’s permit was suspended for drug-driving.

A month earlier Foy was involved in a minor crash on St Albans Rd when his car rear-ended another.

After inspecting the damage on the other car, Foy told the occupants: “f---, that would have hurt” before getting back in his car and driving off.

Foy was found hiding in his home’s roof cavity and arrested in March this year after skipping bail with six warrants out for his arrest.

Foy’s lawyer, Sarah Wood, told the court her client had a troubled upbringing at the hands of a violent stepfather, and had a “very limited education”.

“When he goes downhill, he turns to drugs to cope,” Ms Wood said.

Ms Wood said Foy had shown himself to be very open with police when interviewed and had used his time in custody to engage with programs including drug and alcohol support groups.

Magistrate Franz Holzer said he believed 144 days in prison was adequate, but warned Foy in “clear and stark terms” he must change course if he wants to stay out of jail.

“If you continue to associate with undesirable people, it will lead to further offending,” Mr Holzer said, adding Foy had “an issue around driving” and should be careful around associating with “young people”.

Mr Holzer sentenced Foy to time served plus a $2500 fine and a two-and-a-half-year loss of licence. 

Originally published as Christopher Foy pleads guilty to gun possession, drug-driving, criminal damage