A man who stole four firearms from his father six years ago recently told police he did not have them anymore, a court has been told.
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Cameron Petersen took the gun safe keys from his father’s Ross Creek home, and in 2012, his father realised four guns worth $2000 were missing.
Police attended the Ross Creek home on April 6, 2017, for a firearm inspection when they learnt about the theft.
Petersen’s father told police he tried to get his son to give him back the firearms.
A month later on May 21 police attended an Ararat address to speak to Peterson about the gun theft.
He was arrested and taken to the Ararat Police Station for an interview.
Petersen admitted to stealing the guns, telling police he did not know where they were and he was a prohibited person to keep a firearm
He pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday to being a prohibited person possessing a firearm, theft, driving while suspended and two charges of failing to answer bail.
In relation to the driving offence, the court was told Petersen was driving in Barkly Street in Ararat on November 4, 2017, when police stopped him.
Checks revealed his driver’s licence was suspended for three months from August 10, 2017, and he had been notified of this via a letter in the post.
Petersen was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
He failed to appear at court on December 15 and January 30, which was part of his bail conditions.
Defence lawyer David Tamanika requested to adjourn the plea hearing to obtain further material.
Magistrate Ronald Saines granted the adjournment, saying the firearm offences were serious.