Owner fined over theft of firearms

A LONGFORD carpenter has avoided conviction after 11 guns were stolen from his garage in December.

Gary Richard Trotter, 67, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the prescribed storage requirements for 10 or more firearms.

In December, burglars entered his garage and spent two hours breaking into his gun safe, which was locked and bolted to the floor, before making off with the guns worth more than $13,000. The incident was captured on a neighbour’s CCTV camera.

Mr Trotter reported the burglary to police and was charged. Firearm legislation in Tasmania requires owners of 10 or more guns to have an audible alarm system or a visual recording device installed, which Mr Trotter did not.

Mr Trotter told police he was aware of the storage requirements, but was planning to hand in several of the guns.

Mr Trotter’s lawyer Mark Doyle said the offence was out of character and his client did not intend to have 11 firearms, but came to be storing other people’s firearms for them.

Magistrate Cure said the 11 guns were now “on the black market” and “in the wrong hands”. He ruled Mr Trotter should not be convicted because of the potential impact on his economic or social wellbeing or employment prospects.

Magistrate Cure said Mr Trotter’s “references from upstanding members of the community” showed he was “extremely well regarded”.

She fined Mr Trotter $800 and ordered he pay $105.86 in court costs.