Inala man jailed over gun, drugs

A 53-YEAR-OLD Inala man has been jailed after being found guilty of charges which included unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving tainted property, possession of dangerous drugs and ammunition.

Kim Crawford appeared in Richlands Magistrates Court on Friday via video-link from the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.

The court heard that at 8.26am on Friday, August 13, police executed a search warrant on Crawford's Vulture Street house.

During the search they located a panel in the ceiling of a cupboard which, when removed, concealed a .22 revolver which was loaded with four rounds.

They also found clip seal bags containing vials and a box of blister packs of tablets, both of which Crawford identified as steroids, and there was also about another 500 rounds of ammunition.

Police said Crawford wouldn't reveal to the officers where he had bought the vials of steroids from but he did admit to using one vial each week. He also claimed the blister packs of steroids belonged to a friend he trained with, and what's more, an unknown male had sold him the gun and ammunition a few months previously.

Crawford's defence said it was important to note that although there were about 500 rounds of ammunition found, not all of them were for the gun located with them.

It was also said that Crawford had for a number of years struggled with a significant drug problem, but in an effort to overcome the problem had been working out at the gym in recent months in an attempt to get healthy.

“He was obviously going about it the wrong way,” his defence said.

Magistrate Phillip Austin said Crawford had had a long running struggle with illicit substances, but at the end of the day, there were grave charges before the court.

For each of the four charges Crawford was ordered to serve six months, to be served concurrently.

His parole date has been set for November 4, 2010.

All property was forfeited for destruction.