Nathanael James Sailor sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for possessing weapons, shortened firearm

A Townsville man who was the victim of a terrifying late night shooting which killed his dog has been sentenced after a police investigation discovered he had his own illegal weapons.

A man who was at the centre of a late night shooting at his property has found himself in court for weapons charges, while the individuals who allegedly shot at his home are still at large.

Nathanael James Sailor appeared via video link in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, just over two months after the shootout took place.

The court heard four assailants drove through the front fence of Sailor’s Yabulu property late at night on September 23, before they began shooting at the 33-year-old’s house, killing one of his dogs in the process.

Emergency services received a number of calls that night in relation to a “large volume of gunshots,” and CCTV footage played in court showed a man dressed in full black pointing a gun at Sailor’s property, before fleeing.

Sailor’s lawyer Andrew Peel said additional CCTV footage from his client’s property, which was not shown in court, was viewed during police investigations into the shooting, and revealed Sailor was unlawfully in possession of a weapon, a shortened firearm and a vehicle that had been reported as stolen.

“My client is returning fire as a result of him being a victim of a serious crime,” he said.

Police prosecutor Sam Stewart said the morning after the occurrence, Sailor arrived at the office of his previous lawyer and handed himself in.

Mr Peel said despite the seriousness of the situation, his client shot back and was “clearly acting in self defence,” and the assailant’s actions should not be taken into account.

“He cannot be sentenced for their conduct at all, he is a victim of their conduct,” he said.

“He is required to act under an emergent situation.”

Mr Peel said CCTV footage showed the four assailants were wearing balaclavas and were “heavily armed,” with some weapons so large they could barely fit in the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The court heard police are still investigating the events of the evening, and the four assailants are still at large.

“The persons that were involved in the shootout who weren’t the defendant and the person in the residence with the defendant are subject to an ongoing investigation,” Mr Stewart said.

“At this stage there is no further information I can provide to your Honour.”

Magistrate Rhianna Lee said Sailor had a “concerning” criminal history, and he should not have been in possession of the weapons.

Sailor pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of motor vehicle, unlawful possession of weapons category h, and possess shortened firearms.

He was handed a 15 month prison sentence and will be eligible for parole in March, 2026.

Originally published as Nathanael James Sailor sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for possessing weapons, shortened firearm