Mark Scott faces Orange Local Court on drugs, firearms, explosives charges

Mark Edward Scott, 41, of Elsham Avenue, answered the door when police arrived with a search warrant at 9.40am on March 21.

Scott let the police in and led them to the back of the premises where three large cannabis plants were growing.

Scott was arrested and cautioned and the police continued their search inside the house where they found a Flaming Ball firework, two boxes of Hurricane fireworks and a stick firework in a bedroom. When he was cautioned about that Scott said "I forgot they were there, I bought them about 20 years ago. I do not have a permit."

Magistrate David Day warned Scott about the danger of storing fireworks for such a long period saying it could go off unexpectedly, alternatively he said the powder could get damp and the fireworks wouldn't work.

"Firstly, in that 20 years they may accidentally discharge by refraction or heat, or they disintegrate to the point they don't work, gun powder is terribly unstable stuff."

In the same bedroom police also found two slingshots with an extra three bands in a cupboard. The slingshots were classified as a weapon and Scott said he fabricated them himself.

As the search continued police also found cannabis leaf in a safe and Scott said he took it from his plants. He said there was about "two ounces" in the safe and it was for personal use.

Inside Scott's man cave, police found more cannabis and a satchel of cannabis seeds. They also found an unsecured Norica Air Rifle and pellets as well as three more small cannabis plants.

"I forgot they were there, I should have dealt with them at amnesty. It was complacency."

Mr Day said an air rifle could still inflict injuries and is classified as a firearm and said without appropriate storage it could have gotten into the wrong hands.

"A lot of people wouldn't know the difference between an air rifle, a rim fire, or a centre fire, it's a gun," he said.

Scott was fined $550 for possession of 165.10 grams of cannabis, $110 for possession of 4.4 grams of cannabis seeds, $550 for cultivating six cannabis plants ranging from 60 centimetres to two metres in height.

Mr Day also placed Scott on three concurrend 12-month Community Correction Orders with 20 hours of community service for possessing a prohibited weapon, not keeping a firearm, the air rifle safely, and possession of an unregistered firearm. He also fined Scott $550 for handling an explosive without a licence.

Scott only have one prior mid-range drink-driving charge on his record dating from 1999.

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