Man told police he has ‘nothing to hide’ before firearms found in garage

A verdict has been given to a Lara man after firearms were found in a garage that he said were not his.

A Lara man has been found guilty of possessing firearms and keeping them in a garage he used despite a number of police slip ups.

Wesley Large, who had entered a plea of not guilty, appeared before the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday to face charges of possessing firearms.

Defence submitted that Large was not a resident of the premises the firearms were located in and only stayed there occasionally. In a police interview, Large told them that he stayed there for only three or four nights a week.

When handing down the guilty finding, Magistrate John Bentley said that given Large kept his tools in the garage, it was likely the firearms were also his.

Mr Bentley added that Large himself “admitted” to the garage being in his possession when he told police during a search, “I wouldn’t let youse (sic) through my f**king garage so easily. Open my car, I’ve got nothing to hide”.

In the record of interview, Large also accepted that no one else has access to the property outside of himself and his partner.

“It’s clear that the guns are found in the garage. It’s clear, in my view … that the garage was under his control and possession,” Mr Bentley said, adding that given the finding, “therefore the firearms were (his)”.

DNA evidence was also found in the garage, but Mr Bentley added that with some “criticisms of the police”, another occupant of the house was not tested.

“That is really inexcusable,” Mr Bentley said.

Large’s lawyer submitted he should be placed on a community corrections order rather than a term of imprisonment, but Mr Bentley said that given his history of breaching the conditions, “it’s very hard when they don’t do it”.

Large will return before the courts on June 27 for sentencing and to hear further charges of possessing a drug of dependence and burglary.

Mr Bentley advised defence to organise a mental health assessment, telling Large, “I’m going to give you and your lawyers the opportunity to put forward your best case”.

Originally published as Man told police he has ‘nothing to hide’ before firearms found in garage