A RIVERINA man has been sentenced to a maximum of 12 months' jail after testing positive to drugs and being found with prohibited weapons during a police operation.
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Justin Stuart Murdoch, 26, appeared in Wagga Local Court on Monday when he pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Murdoch, who resides in Junee and is a butcher at the town's abattoir, also pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing prohibited drug and driving while disqualified.
Court documents state that Murdoch was driving a Mitsubishi Magna along Hovell Street, Cootamundra, about 10.20am last Sunday when police stopped him for a random test.
He had told police he was unlicensed before clarifying he was disqualified.
After testing positive to the drug ice, he was arrested and taken to Cootamundra Police Station where he subjected to a secondary test.
Police also searched his car while Murdoch was still at the scene and they found a small bag containing 1.4g of the drug ice, a pair of knuckle dusters and an alloy baton.
They also found $2300 cash and two knives in the car.
During a police interview at the station, he admitted that he owned all of the items seized and that he bought the weapons online.
Court documents state that he held a provisional licence that expired in January 2015 and that he has been disqualified from driving until March 2022.
In court on Tuesday, magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim sentenced Murdoch to a non-parole period of seven months. He will be eligible for early release in June 2020.
Mr Abdul-Karim said there were findings of special circumstances in relation to Murdoch's need to address his illicit substance abuse issues.
Supervision was recommended if released to parole.