Mandurah court: man buys rifle in Woolworths carpark

BUYING a rifle and ammunition in a Woolworths carpark cost a man $1000 when he appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court.

Matthew Adrian Gardiner (38) pleaded guilty to two counts of unlicensed person possessing a firearm/ammunition and three counts of breaching bail.

The lawyer said Gardiner purchased the rifle for $800 after seeing an advertisement on Facebook. Gardiner was to use the firearm on his 19ha property with vermin and rabbits.

Gardiner had missed previous court appearances because he had other commitments, such as helping care for his mother-in-law.

Magistrate Anne Longden said Gardiner had made a bad decision. She fined him $900 with $100 costs.