Trevor Murray Bourne, 53, appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, July 2, charged with seven offences after police found the items in his four-wheel drive during a search at South Head, Moruya in April.

Bourne pleaded guilty to dealing with proceeds of crime; having a knife in a public place; possessing a prohibited drug; possessing an unauthorised firearm; possessing an unregistered firearm; not keeping a firearm safely stored and possessing ammunition without a licence.

Police said officers pulled over Bourne’s Toyota Landcruiser just before 8pm on April 27 and a search uncovered various weapons and drugs.

Police found about 62 grams of cannabis and a small bundle of cash in the car. A hunting knife with a 24cm blade was found under the driver’s side floor mat.

Officers then retrieved an axe, pocket knife and a box of shotgun cartridges.

A 12-gauge unloaded shotgun was found under a mattress, which Bourne said he had recently purchased from a man in a carpark in Moruya.

Police later discovered the gun to be unregistered and that Bourne did not hold a firearms licence.

Defence solicitor Travis McGeachy said Bourne had made a bad decision.

“He’s very disappointed that he’s found himself in custody at his age – he said he should have been able to address these issues earlier,” Mr McGeachy said.

Bourne was sentenced to a 15-month Intensive Corrections Order under Community Corrections supervision. He was fined $1200.