A METH-fuelled thief who stole three firearms from an Appin South property has been jailed for seven months.
Lucas Walters, 38, was sentenced in the County Court in Bendigo, after earlier pleading guilty to burglary, theft of firearm, theft and intentionally damaging property.
He was also handed a 24-month community corrections order.
Walters broke into the Caldwells Road rural property on May 9 last year when its owner was holidaying overseas.
The victim had stored a centre fire rifle, an air rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun in a secured gun safe. All firearms were registered.
An air rifle was found in a shed at a Kerang house where Walters lived after a warrant was executed by police.
Checks revealed the firearm belonged to the victim.
Walters told police he found the air rifle on the banks of the Loddon River two days earlier while looking for bottles. He said he took the firearm home and didn’t think much about it. The other two guns were not recovered.
The victim’s son checked his father’s property and discovered the house had been broken into and that the gun safe door had been bent open. Unsuccessful attempts were made to pull the gun safe off the wall.
Judge Sarah Leighfield said Walters used drugs, including methamphetamine, at the time of his offending in order to fulfil the function of self-medication to help with regulating his emotions and manage his untreated mental health symptoms.
