A MAN who has just completed a lengthy jail sentence is fighting to avoid serving more time after police claim they found him with a sawn-off rifle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Paul McDonough, 34, Schomberg Place, Warrnambool, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday for a contest mention hearing.
He was back in court on Tuesday and will return on August 11 in an effort to change a plea previously entered on the firearm charge.
His solicitor and barrister have now withdrawn from the case.
Police said they went to and raided Mr McDonough's Schomberg Place home on May 22 last year.
They searched the home and vehicles parked outside, finding a sawn-off .22 bolt action rifle in a Holden ute hidden behind a seat.
They also found small plastic bags, scales and .22 ammunition.
The rifle was stolen from a farm in February last year and Mr McDonough said after receiving threats he sourced the gun and ammunition for protection.
He said he drove his friend's ute the night before to go and buy drugs.
A solicitor said his client now claimed he had made false admissions to police.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan said on Monday Mr McDonough had just completed a 12-month jail sentence for aggravated burglary and was now serving a community corrections order after sentencing in the county court.
He said if Mr McDonough contested the remaining charges and lost he would definitely spend more time in jail.
The magistrate said Mr McDonough was playing games to avoid serving more time and the charges should have been heard well before now.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris claimed Mr McDonough entered guilty pleas in December last year.
The magistrate adjourned the case to hear the previous court recordings and returned disgruntled.
He said he had wasted his time listening to the recording and it was crystal clear Mr McDonough had pleaded guilty to the charges in December - and that was said three times during a previous hearing.
Mr Coghlan said there had been five adjournments and it was time the charges were heard.
Mr McDonogh claims he had previously suffered mental health issues.
