A MAN who failed to keep a firearm safely has been convicted and fined after matters against him were heard in Bathurst Local Court.
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Brenton Barwick, 27, of Cooper Cresent, Gormans Hill, appeared before magistrate Cate Follent in Bathurst Local Court charged with not notifying a changed address for a firearm's storage and not keeping a firearm safely.
Police facts outlined how police were in attendance at a property at Cummings Street in West Bathurst on December 22, 2018 and, while at the location, police spoke to the occupant, who told officers there was an unregistered firearm stored in the roof cavity.
The occupant said the firearm had been placed there by Barwick.
After obtaining written permission, police searched for and located a .270 calibre Howa bolt action rifle within the roof cavity.
Police conducted serial checks on the rifle, which revealed it belonged to the accused who was in attendance at the address.
Police conducted a digitally recorded interview with the accused in which he was cautioned.
During the interview, Barwick admitted to storing the firearm in the roof, claiming he thought it was the safest place as his safe was not bolted down yet, according to the police facts.
Further to this, he admitted to being aware of the obligations of safe storage and conceded that where he had stored it had not complied with his obligations under the firearms act, according to the police facts.
Police said Barwick made admissions to not advising the firearms registry of changes to the firearm's storage location.
Current records, according to police, indicated the firearm should be stored at Dubbo.
As a result of the investigation, both the firearm and Barwick's firearm licence were seized.
On the first charge, not notifying a changed address for a firearm's storage, the matter was dealt with by way of an eight-month Condition Release Order.
On the second charge, Barwick was convicted and fined $700.