Man in court over firearm fascination

A 22-YEAR-OLD Newcomb man who was facing up to 10 years behind bars for his “unhealthy interest in firearms” has avoided a conviction.

William Tipper appeared before Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday and entered a plea of guilty to possessing firearms in a trafficable quantity and attempting to possess handguns that resembled semiautomatic weapons.

Police submitted that Tipper sent the handguns to family members’ addresses to avoid detection, which left it open for third parties to access the weapons.

In September 2019, Australian Border Force intercepted a number of these packages containing parts for an Airsoft Glock handgun.

The guns are typically used for the sport of paintball but are illegal in Australia.

Police searched Tipper’s

Newcomb address and located four Airsoft handguns, a pump-action shotgun gel blaster, a bolt-action sniper gel blaster and miscellaneous components and magazines.

Magistrate Michelle Hodgson noted the offending was driven by a desire to possess the items for sport, but told the accused man she was “concerned there may be an unhealthy interest in firearms”.

The police prosecutor told the court that while the firearms were not capable of causing serious injury, they were illegal because they presented a danger to the community and were accessible to other people.

“(There needs to be) deterrence in relation to other people in the community who find themselves in a similar position as the accused, perhaps being a teenager who isn’t aware of the seriousness of these weapons,” she said.

Referring to the guns’ apparent inability to cause serious harm, Ms Hodgson said that she still had to emphasise that possessing firearms in a trafficable quantity was “extremely serious offending”.

“It’s been put that they wouldn’t cause very serious injury, but they have been used often to terrorise people and for criminal activity,” Ms Hodgson said.

The firearm charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, but Ms Hodgson instead fined Tipper $3000 without conviction.

Given Tipper’s “excellent” family and community support, Ms Hodgson said his chances of rehabilitation were high. However, she warned Tipper he must leave firearms alone.

“I will warn you sir, this is a once-only opportunity. If you come back before this court for a firearm offence … you will not get that opportunity again.”