Killer Thomas Pinnington sentenced to further jail time after he buried a firearm in a safe on his grandmother’s property

One of the “cowardly” killers who lured a drug dealer to Adelaide High School has been jailed for longer after an intercepted phone call led police to a shocking discovery.

One of the “cowardly, ruthlessly efficient” killers of drug dealer Victor Codea has had further jail time added after he hid a gun in his grandmother’s backyard.

Thomas Charles Pinnington, 28, was in a “state of panic” when an intercepted prison phone call led to the sinister discovery.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Pinnington was in custody on a charge of murder when he rang a man in October 2020.

During the phone call – which was monitored by a detective – he told the man where a safe was buried at his grandmother’s property and gave him the code to unlock it.

Police went to the property and found a firearm, namely a self-loading rifle, and ammunition in the safe.

Thomas Nichols, Thomas Pinnington, Jeremy Dale Sandell and Kain Mazomenos during the trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“You were in a state of panic because an acquaintance had asked you to store the firearm on his behalf in a safe place,” Judge Joana Fuller said.

“You did not have it in your possession for any nefarious or sinister purpose.”

Pinnington pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm.

He and his co-accused Kain Mazomenos, Jeremy Dale Sandell and Thomas Nicholas were acquitted of murder – Sandell pleaded guilty to, while the others were found guilty of, manslaughter.

The men lured Mr Codea to Adelaide High School in August 2020 fuelled by a desire to defend an outlaw bikie gang’s reputation.

Victor Codea, 24, was bashed to death by a group of men in the car park of Adelaide High School. Image: SA Police.

During sentencing in 2023, Supreme Court Justice Adam Kimber said the attack upon Mr Codea was only partially motivated by his bad online reviews of drugs sold by Sandell.

He revealed the quartet also believed Mr Codea had written other online comments saying “all Finks are f**ked” and calling Mazomenos a “Finks dog”.

“Each of you believed (the reviews) breached what was expected of those in the drug world, and your motivation for the attack was retribution,” he said.

“Mazomenos, Pinnington and Nichols, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the three of you were motivated to act in the belief the Finks had been disparaged.

“This attack was well-planned, well-co-ordinated and executed by the combined efforts of you all – it was also a cowardly attack.

“You are all responsible for each and every blow.”

This month, Judge Fuller added on to Pinnington’s previous sentence and sentenced him to 13 years and six months.

His non-parole period was only extended by seven days, making it eight years and 10 months.

“Can I just encourage you to continue striving towards learning new skills and educating yourself whilst you are in custody so you are in the best position, upon your release, to make a good fist of the rest of your life?” Judge Fuller said.

The sentence was backdated to September 17, 2020.

Originally published as Killer Thomas Pinnington sentenced to further jail time after he buried a firearm in a safe on his grandmother’s property