Andrew Thomas Wells pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon, possessing dangerous drugs

When police investigating a near-death shooting of a drug dealer in suburbia searched a Qld pub they found a surprise unrelated gun.

Andrew Thomas Wells, 52, pleaded guilty to one count each of unlawful possession of weapons, stealing, obstructing police, receiving tainted property firearm/ammunition, as well as two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

A man who was busted with a 3D printed handgun and drugs while police investigated an unrelated shooting in Maryborough has faced court.

Andrew Thomas Wells, 52, pleaded guilty to one count each of unlawful possession of weapons, stealing, obstructing police, receiving tainted property firearm/ammunition, as well as two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard a raid had been carried out at Wells’ room at the Central Hotel in Maryborough on January 18 and found the 3D printed handgun about 18cm long and “easily concealable”.

It was found alongside four .22 calibre bullets, the court heard.

Wells was also caught with five grams of meth in a clipseal bag, LSD and a telescopic baton and glass pipes and arrested on scene.

The raid was part of the police investigation into the shooting of well-known Maryborough identity Daniel Baumgart who survived a bullet to his head.

While police allege a 3D printed gun was used in the drug-linked shooting, they do not allege (and this publication does not suggest) Wells was the shooter or that the gun found in his room was the same weapon used in the alleged “hit” on Mr Baumgart or that he was in anyway involved.

Todd Gary Ashwood, 45, has been charged with one count of attempted murder in relation to the shooting of Mr Baumgart on January 13.

Andrew Thomas Wells.

The court heard Wells resisted police and had to be taken to the ground, where he continued to refuse to follow directions.

It also heard about the 52-year-old’s 16-page criminal history.

This included previous convictions for possessing large quantities of meth, including 9.138 grams on one occasion and 17.14 grams on another.

Defence lawyer Morgan Harris told the court Wells was a mature offender with a lengthy criminal history.

But he said his client suffered a prejudicial upbringing and had begun drug use very early in his life.

Magistrate John Milburn took into account the emotional harm Wells had suffered has a child and the time he had already spent in presentence custody.

He noted the total of five grams of meth discovered in Wells’ room also included the weight of the bags it was in and was subject to purity.

He said the weapons charge and the possession of meth were both serious and that Wells had compounded matters by obstructing police.

Wells was given a head sentence of 15 months in jail.

He was given immediate parole eligibility.

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Originally published as Andrew Thomas Wells pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon, possessing dangerous drugs