’SWAT coppers’ claim in house raid

A MAN has claimed a “vexatious” neighbour caused dozens of ‘SWAT’ police officers to raid his house looking for weapons, and asked a court to let him off with no punishment.

William Charles Wilson, 37, claimed in court that a neighbour had made numerous claims about him to police, leading to a raid at his Boondooma home on June 3.

Police arrived at the property and Wilson told them he had marijuana and a water pipe in the laundry. About 1g of marijuana was found in the property, and Wilson was issued with a notice to appear in Murgon Magistrates Court.

Lawyer Jay Rose asked the court to convict and not further punish Wilson, and to not record a conviction.

Ms Rose said “30-plus SWAT coppers”, as well as a drug dog, arrived at the property to execute a search warrant looking for firearms.

She also said a “vexatious” neighbour made “all kinds of complaints about the defendant including to the RSPCA and to police”.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair rubbished the claim over the raids, noting “we don’t have 30 SWAT officers in Queensland”.

Prosecutor Lisa Manns clarified the search was carried out by ordinary officers working as a task force.

Mr Sinclair questioned Ms Rose on what the number of officers had to do with the charge of possessing dangerous drugs.

“The search warrant was for weapons, there was no weapons found,” she said.

“The court can take into account the circumstances of what happened including having 30 police SWAT team-trained officers in the home … and all that was found was less than a gram of cannabis.”

Wilson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a drug utensil and was fined $350.