Matthew Drayton pleads guilty to possession of firearms and drugs

A Winchelsea man who killed a friend with a knife in a “defensive homicide” has pleaded guilty to having drugs in his jail cell and a gun at his home.

Matthew Drayton. Picture: Facebook

A convicted killer from Winchelsea had a sawn-off shotgun in his home and drugs in his jail cell.

Matthew Wayne Drayton, 34, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday to possessing drugs and firearms and was sentenced to six months jail, but was released from custody immediately as a result of time already served.

Police prosecutor First Constable Alex Turner said on July 25 this year, police went to Drayton’s home in Winchelsea after receiving an anonymous tip that he was in possession of a firearm.

When police arrived at the home just after 10am they located a sawn-off shotgun and a firearm holster under his pillow.

The court heard officers also found ammunition and a small green bag containing vegetable matter.

Drayton was arrested as a result of police findings.

A few days later on July 31, prison officers at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall found a latex glove containing 8.5 grams of methamphetamine.

The court heard Drayton had spent six months in custody prior to pleading guilty.

His lawyer told the court his client had been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of traumatic experiences in his life.

Upon Drayton’s release from jail in August 2022 he went back into jail as a result of parole breaches, the court heard.

Drayton’s lawyer told the court his client had found the shotgun in a toolbox and kept the gun as he wanted to feel safe.

Magistrate John Bentley sentenced Drayton to six months in jail, taking into account the time he had already spent in custody.

“He clearly needs help, but he needs to get it,” Mr Bentley said.

In 2013, Drayton killed Robert Colenso, 57, in what was described as a “defensive homicide” by Judge John Dixon.

In sentencing in 2014, the court heard Drayton told police he visited Mr Colenso’s Armitage St unit and during an argument about cannabis, Mr Colenso, who had a blood alcohol reading of more than 0.2, held a saw to Drayton’s throat.

“How the confrontation escalated so dramatically was never satisfactorily explained,” Judge Dixon said.

“You told police the deceased then picked up a boning knife that was handy and you believed that he was going to kill you with it.

“You then took the knife from him and stabbed him with it in the left side of his chest. What happened to the knife was not explained,” he said at the time.

In 2014, Drayton was sentenced to nine years jail, with a minimum of six years.

Originally published as Matthew Drayton pleads guilty to possession of firearms and drugs