Andrew Robert Nichols in court for firearm, explosives

A convicted drug trafficker has left the courthouse in handcuffs after police found a sawn-off firearm hidden in a vacuum cleaner at his home.

Andrew Robert Nichols, 37, pleaded guilty to possessing explosives, possessing utensils, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs exceeding schedule 2, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of an anti-personnel device when he front the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

A business owner left the Bundaberg courthouse in handcuffs on Monday after being convicted of having a “concerning number of items” in his possession.

Andrew Robert Nichols, 37, pleaded guilty to possessing explosives, possessing utensils, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs exceeding schedule 2, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of an anti-personnel device when he fronted the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

He was sentenced to nine months behind bars.

The court heard a police search of Nichols’ home at 9am on July 6, 2023, revealed a shortened bolt action firearm hidden inside a vacuum cleaner.

Police also found a bag of assorted ammunition in the bedroom.

Police prosecutor Carl Spargo said during the search, a clip seal bag was found with 2mg of cannabis, three pipes used in connection with drug offences, capsicum spray and a vial of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (a nervous system depressant more commonly known as GHB).

“The firearm is the most concerning of the matters before the court, drug history notwithstanding,” he said.

“He’s not a weapons licence holder and he’s obviously not a lawful owner of the firearm.”

Sgt Spargo said Nichols had a “significantly serious criminal history” which included a 2018 sentence in the Brisbane Supreme Court for drug trafficking and submitted he be given a head sentence of 6-12 months jail.

Andrew Robert Nichols appeared in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

Lawyer Jason Grant told the court Nichols was only holding the weapon for a mate, who had failed to come and get it when requested.

“Essentially he’s (Nichols) fallen back into drug use, the weapon has been left at his house, he knew it was there, put it in the vacuum cleaner at the back of the house,” he said.

“He tried to locate the person who left the weapon there, they were unsurprisingly unwilling to come forward.”

Mr Grant told the court Nichols was a business owner, as the sole owner and operator behind ARN Glass and Aluminium, a business which would take a hit if he was sentenced to an actual period in custody.

“The reality will be that he will lose contracts that he has for upcoming works in the next few months if he is taken into custody,” he said.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan accepted the submission and said it was “quite forcefully argued”, but in the end sentenced Nichols to actual time in prison despite the calls for immediate parole from the lawyer

Nichols was given a head sentence of nine months jail for possession of a firearm, one month for possession of GHB, seven days for possession of an anti personnel device, and seven days for possession the ammunition - to be served concurrently.
He was convicted and not further punished on the remaining charges.

Originally published as Andrew Robert Nichols in court for firearm, explosives