Christopha Kim Thiemann sentenced in Toowoomba Magistrates Court after loaded shortened firearm found in raid

A man involved in a siege at Highfields, which uncovered a cache of guns and explosives, has been sentenced in court after taking ownership of a shortened rifle.

Police conducting a search near a Highfields property that was the scene of a siege allegedly found a loaded sawn-off .22 rifle on January 19, 2023.

One of four people arrested after police raided a Highfields home, uncovering a cache of guns, ammo, and explosives, has been sentenced in court.

In Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, May 5, Christopha Kim Thiemann pleaded guilty to possessing explosives, possessing a shortened rifle, and contravening the direction of police.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton said when police raided the “known drug house”, officers found a loaded sawn-off rifle and ammunition in a backpack, alongside documents with Thiemann’s name on them.

Police conducting a search near a Highfields property that was the scene of a siege allegedly found a loaded sawn-off .22 rifle on January 19, 2023.

Following the raid at the Bowtell Drive home on January 19, Thiemann was arrested and charged – spending 106 days in pre-sentence.

Senior Constable Wheaton said the 33-year-old man was on parole at the time and he had a significant and relevant lengthy criminal history, which included a propensity for violence.

The court was told the father of two had a serious drug problem which contributed to his repeated offending.

Magistrate Louise Shephard said carrying a loaded sawn-off gun was a terribly serious crime which was of great concern to the community’s safety.

Ms Shephard sentenced Thiemann to a 10 month jail term, to run concurrently with a pre-existing 12 month jail term.

Thiemann was given a parole eligibility date of Friday, May 5.