Crime: Australian Army veteran Callum Edward Macaulay Butler caught carrying loaded pistol in car on Gold Coast

The Australian Army veteran who did a tour of Afghanistan “found himself in the wrong crowd”.

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AN Australian Army veteran who did a tour of Afghanistan was caught with a loaded pistol in his car while it was being driven by a man with links to a bikie gang.

Callum Edward Macaulay Butler pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to possessing weapons and possessing explosives.

A 9mm pistol. File image.

Prosecutor Chris Freeman told the court that police stopped the silver Mercedes outside the Hilton in Surfers Paradise on January 11 last year to find it being driven by Bowie Papa, who is alleged to have links to the bikie gang the Finks.

Papa allegedly tested positive for driving while the drug ice was in his system.

Butler, 29, owned the car and was in the passenger seat.

Police searched the car and found a black 9mm pistol in the footwell of the passenger side.

“The defendant is military trained and indicated he was able to handle this weapon effectively,” Mr Freeman said.

Defence barrister Marty Longhurst, instructed by TWC Lawyers, said Butler was in the Army for 10 years and did a tour of Afghanistan.

He said Butler suffered from PTSD as a result and had left the Army about two years ago.

“He found himself in the wrong crowd and went down the road of using cocaine,” Mr Longhurst said.

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“It was a low point where he is in a car with a man who is very well known to police and someone my client who, with sober eyes, would never be hanging around.”

Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced Butler to two years probation and no conviction was recorded.

“Your service to your country is a factor to be taken into account and the contribution that service made to your mental health conditions appear to be a contributing factor to your offending,” she said.

Magistrate Magee said Butler had taken positive steps in moving away from the Gold Coast and attempting drug rehabilitation.

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Originally published as Crime: Australian Army veteran Callum Edward Macaulay Butler caught carrying loaded pistol in car on Gold Coast