There is no doubt Peter Gavin Nelson must serve a stint behind bars for having the deadly weapon, it’s just a matter of how long.

The firearm had two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition in it when it was seized on Nelson on May 16.

He said he was taking it to a person who knew about guns to make it work, but tests by Victoria Police showed it did in fact fire.

Nelson was already on bail when detectives stopped him outside Gateway Health.

A search also found four ice bags, his backpack had bags of ammunition, other deal bags, and a syringe filled with a clear liquid.

Items which police believe were likely used for break-ins, including rubber gloves and a headlamp, were also seized.

He admitted to being high on meth.

It followed earlier incidents where he threatened a woman in her car on Victoria Cross Parade on March 7 while on a stolen kids BMX bike.

Nelson had tried to get into her car as the woman was preparing to get out. She swore at him before going inside her home to get her husband.

He tried to break inside a home on Castleton Street without success and was heavily stoned when police arrested him near the corner of Tarakan and Pearce Streets.

He was armed with a knife, retractable blade, stolen passport, bank cards and equipment to break into cars.

Defence lawyer Jonathon Rattray on Wednesday said his client’s problem wasn’t meth, but heroin.

“It’s a long history of property crime and drug use and possession to support a heroin habit,” he said of his client’s history.

The gun was the most concerning aspect of his offending, Mr Rattray said, which magistrate Ian Watkins agreed with.

“Possess a loaded firearm in a public place is serious,” the magistrate said.

Mr Watkins said he would need time to consider a sentence, which will likely be less than a year in jail and a corrections order.

The matter will return to court on September 10.