Stolen car, revolver lead to jail

A TOOWOOMBA man found with a loaded revolver inside a stolen car he was driving has been jailed for 18 months.

However, because Travis Peter Holborn had spent more than seven months in jail before sentence, he was released immediately on parole.

The 29-year-old appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to plead guilty to a total of 25 offences committed between February 8, last year, and January 21.

Those offences included a number of drug matters including Holborn being found with small amounts of amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and prescription drugs as well as a shortened rim-fire rifle and ammunition on November 11 last year in Toowoomba.

He also pleaded guilty to receiving a number of stolen items including tools, toolbox, a chainsaw and fuel containers.

What was considered his most serious offence, however, was driving a stolen Toyota HiLux on Anzac Ave in Toowoomba in January.

Inside the HiLux police found a bag containing a number of items reported stolen in Toowoomba burglaries along with a loaded revolver, police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson told the court.

Holborn’s solicitor Amber Acreman, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, said her client pleaded guilty on the grounds he knew the weapon was there, but a lot of people had been in and out of that vehicle.

He had spent 343 days in custody of which only 219 days could be declared, she said.

Ms Acreman said Holborn had struggled with drugs since his older brother gave him “a shot” at age 12.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Holborn to 15 months in jail but, declaring 219 days as time served, ordered he be released immediately on parole.