A Wodonga man found with a rifle in his car when stopped for a routine police check had forgotten about the weapon, a court has heard.
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Defence solicitor Rod Ambrose said the man found the weapon in a shed when he and his mother were clearing out a shed as they prepared to sell the family farm.
Mr Ambrose said this was the first time the gun, owned by John Paul Bortolot's father - who died a decade ago - had been seen in 30 years.
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"He had it in the car and intended to take it to the police station but forgot about it," he told magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim in Albury Local Court on Monday.
"The other thing is the firearm didn't work. It didn't have a trigger on it. It couldn't be loaded."
Bortolot, 48, of Bortolot Road, pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place, possess ammunition without holding a licence and possess a prohibited drug.
Mr Ambrose said Bortolot was gravely ill and, on his arrest, collapsed and had to be taken to hospital.
"Due to his health, I don't think there's any point in having him monitored."
Police were on patrol in River Road, Howlong, on July 10 about 5pm when they stopped Bortolot's car.
They found 1.5 grams of cannabis on him, then 11 .22 calibre bullets in a container in the driver's door pocket and, after being alerted to it by Bortolot, a .22 rifle in the boot.
"The accused told police there was a bolt for the firearm on the front passenger seat which was wrapped in tissue paper."
Bortolot was convicted and fined $800 and placed on a 15-month community corrections order.
