The man behind the burglary of a huge cache of weapons from a Dunedin pistol club member has been jailed for nearly four and a-half years.
Scott Alexander Trotter (40) was the mastermind behind the break-in at the Maitland St address on October 25 last year and was instrumental in distributing many of the weapons in the ensuing days.
The Dunedin District Court this afternoon heard how the defendant contacted members of the Hells Angels and Bandidos gangs after the burglary, offering the 23 pistols, four military-style semi-automatic rifles, a shotgun and 25,000 rounds of ammunition.
Trotter and Raymond Jason Mosley (39) posed as glaziers to gain entry to the house.
They removed a glass panel from a door and once inside found two open safes containing the arsenal.
Trotter was the last of seven people sentenced in connection with the incident and received the longest prison term.
The defendant interjected during Judge Michael Crosbie’s sentencing.
“I'm not a gang member. The police just make up whatever they want,” he said.
Trotter's affiliations were not the point, the judge said.
“It's a burglary, knowing there's a market out there for firearms. That market was very quick to respond, which is something the community should be concerned about,” he said.
As well as the firearms offending, Trotter also admitted a charge of allowing his vehicle to be used in the commission of a drug offence.
An associate drove his BMW to Gore where he picked up 5gm of methamphetamine, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Craig Power said Trotter should be considered a high risk of reoffending.
He said there had been a significant impact on the victim of the burglary.
As well as serving a prison term of four years, five months, Trotter was also ordered to pay $20,143 reparation.
