Dad caught up in gun robbery
Guilty pleas after pair seen on CCTV
A SINGLE father did not know he was about to help a friend steal guns and ammunition when he drove Lane Michael Dwyer to a Longford home in February.
Zachary Allan Parker, 29, and his co-accused Lane Michael Dwyer, 31, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, stealing a firearm, stealing and unlawful trafficking in firearms in the Supreme Court in June.
Justice Robert Pearce sentenced Parker in Launceston last week saying he did not realise Dwyer’s plan until it was well progressed, but he “did not have the fortitude to withdraw”.
The court heard the men spent the day together on February 20 when, in the early afternoon, Dwyer suggested they drive to Longford.
“Unknown to you, he was heavily addicted to methamphetamine and his intention was to look for things to steal to fund his addiction,” Justice Pearce said.
Dwyer directed Parker to stop at the property of a former work colleague. Parker realised what was happening when Dwyer entered the home and beckoned him inside.
“Together you removed a large homemade gun safe from the wall of a room inside.”
The safe contained 14 guns worth almost $9000 and a large quantity of ammunition worth about $2000.
Among the guns were one .22 semi automatic pistol, one air rifle and the rest were either rifles or shotguns.
Dwyer also stole a mountain bike worth $6000, a jacket and an iPhone. Parker took the bike and one of the shotguns to a home in Hadspen intending to keep them.
He then went to his home in Prospect, transferred the rest of the guns to another vehicle and drove them to a home in
Newnham where Mr Dwyer was living.
The burglary was captured on CCTV.
Just after midnight the next morning, police searched the Newnham property and arrested Dwyer and Parker.
Parker was in possession of 1.03g of methamphetamine.
Guns were found in the garage and in a car outside.
Parker made admissions to police and gave up the location of the abandoned gun safe and ammunition and the Hadspen home where the bike and shotgun were left. Only 10 of the guns were recovered.
Justice Pearce said Parker did not sell or participate in the sale of any of the guns.
Dwyer was previously sentenced to imprisonment for 15 months with six months of that term suspended. Parker was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for two years.
patrick.gee@news.com.au