Australian Defence Force Thomas McLaren Burton fined after ‘showing off’ illegal silencer to mates

A Darwin soldier who brought his illegal silencer out pig hunting to ‘show off to his mates’ has copped a whopping fine.

An Aussie soldier who brought his illegal silencer out pig hunting to ‘show off to his mates’ has copped a whopping fine. Picture: BART IRWIN

An Aussie soldier who brought his illegal silencer out pig hunting to ‘show off to his mates’ has copped a whopping fine.

Thomas McLaren Burton faced Darwin Local Court on Thursday after being pulled over by cops with the firearm muzzle in his car.

Judge Steve Ledek told the young Australian Defence Force member that he must have caught the police officer “on a bad day”.

Burton was pulled over after clocking 20km above the speed limit, travelling at 100km/h in a 80 zone at Knuckeys Lagoon on March 15, 2025.

The court heard Burton had drunk three Carlton beers at a friend’s house after their hunting trip hunting, and recorded a low level blood alcohol reading of 0.054.

“It’s just such a squeak, but there are thresholds and laws and they’ve got to draw the line somewhere,” Mr Ledek said.

However while checking the vehicle, the officer spotted Burton’s silencer, a firearms device Mr Ledek said was perceived as being “quite nefarious”.

Burton’s lawyer Jackson Meaney explained that while the young soldier had a NSW weapons permit for the silencer, he did not factor in that it was not covered by his NT licence.

“He’s made the mistake of putting the suppressor in the car to show one of his mates,” Mr Meaney said.

He said Burton had previously worked as a professional hunter clearing feral pests on properties near Wombeyan, a small NSW town 170km northeast of the ACT.

“Some people might say there’s far more vermin in Canberra than in regional NSW,” Mr Ledek joked.

Mr Meaney said as a result of the charges, Burton had been forced to hand over his 11 firearms — worth $15,000 — and would have to reapply for his gun licence.

Mr Meaney called for the judge not to lay a conviction, to avoid impacting the “gifted and capable” Private’s career as he trained to become a sniper.

He said a firearms conviction could impact his ability to take part in overseas training in Indonesia, the Philippines and the United States.

Burton pleaded guilty to the low range drink driving, exceeding the speed limit and possessing a silencer

Mr Ledek did not record a conviction, but fined him $3300, with a total of $450 victims levies.