BRENDAN Shane Masterson will be behind bars for up to a year after being caught with a cache of dangerous weapons, including shortened firearms.
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The Lavington man, 31, has a lengthy criminal history for offences including armed robbery, serious assault, break and enter and drug possession.
He has no job and was sleeping on his mum’s couch in her Moore Street unit, which was raided on September 20.
Police had attended the unit block to serve a firearm prohibition order and weapon prohibition order on Masterson.
They knocked on the door and he answered.
The officers soon found handcuffs and rounds of .303 ammunition, including in the kitchen and inside a bedroom cupboard.
A large plastic tub in a bedroom had an imitation firearm, which had been sprayed black, and police found and a slingshot in a wardrobe.
The most concerning items were found in a white and pink bag inside the cupboard, held shut with a padlock.
The 31-year-old said he didn’t have a key, so police broke the backpack open to gain access.
Inside they found a 12-gauge shotgun, which had the stock and barrel cut down.
Another cut-down shotgun was also found, along with parts of another cut down shotgun.
Police also discovered 24 loose shotgun shells and 34 cartridges in boxes inside the backpack.
Masterson denied knowing about the items and said he had just been looking after the bag for a friend.
He has never held a licence and is banned from having guns due to his prior convictions.
The link between the raids is unclear and police continue to investigate the origin of the guns found in Masterson’s possession.
Albury magistrate Rodney Brender ordered the 31-year-old serve at least nine months in custody before he is eligible for release on parole, with a 12-month maximum jail term.
He was also fined $1100.
