Lavington man with 'extensive' criminal record faces sentence on firearms charges

This led to the arrest of known Lavington criminal Isaac James Williams, who was charged with several firearms offences.

But despite his DNA being found on the gun, Williams refused to be interviewed by police.

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The gun was discovered almost two years ago.

Williams, 26, of Reid Avenue, has pleaded guilty in Albury Local Court to charges of possess an unauthorised firearm, possess an unregistered firearm and possess a shortened firearm.

He appeared in court via a video link to Junee jail.

Defence lawyer Glenn Moody asked for the matter to be adjourned for sentencing on January 27, when Williams is due to face a hearing on other unrelated charges.

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Magistrate Richard Funston agreed, then ordered the preparation of a sentence assessment report on Williams.

This will be prepared by NSW Community Corrections in Albury.

Williams, the court heard, had never held a firearms licence in any Australian state or territory.

Police were called to an address in Mate Street, North Albury, on January 29, 2020, about 5.25pm, about "an item found in a driveway garden bed".

They recovered an unknown-brand .22 rifle, "which had been shortened at the barrel from its original state".

The serial number on the rifle was not registered in NSW, nor in any other state or territory.

Police said remnants of Williams' DNA were on the bolt lever and the trigger, "which is surrounded by the trigger guard of the firearm".

Mr Funston was told that Williams had an "extensive" criminal history in NSW for a range of offences.

These included illicit drug possession, assault, break and enter, dishonesty, possessing goods suspected of being stolen and various traffic offences.

Williams was only released from a Victorian jail on parole in August.

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