A 24-YEAR-OLD Warrnambool man was successful in his bail application at the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday after allegedly hiding a loaded weapon under the blankets of his bed.

Ryan Hickson, formerly of Osborn Court, Warrnambool, was remanded in custody and appeared via Webex after being arrested on Monday, April 24, for committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie told the accused that despite being an unacceptable risk to the community, he would be bailed to his grandmother’s Warrnambool address with strict conditions.

Police constable Hannah Molan told the court that Mr Hickson failed to appear in court on three previous occasions for driving offences - driving whilst disqualified, displaying false registration plates and driving erratically.

The court heard Mr Hickson had his licence disqualified for 12 months for failing an oral fluid test.

Const Molan said Mr Hickson was also previously bailed on April 6, 2022, after being charged with several firearm offences including possession of unregistered handgun, imitation firearms and attempting to import a firearm.

The court heard that on that occasion, police conducted a search of his bail address and inside a safe in the accused’s bedroom where they allegedly located a Glock handgun, ball bearings for handguns, two sling shots, three shot gun cartridges and miscellaneous items. The accused was interviewed, charged and bailed but did not attend court on July 15, 2022.

The court was told that on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, police were patrolling the Delacombe area when they intercepted a blue 1988 Toyota Landcruiser driven by Mr Hickson.

Const Molan said that Mr Hickson told the officers he had COVID-19, allegedly gave a false name and failed to produce a licence or other identification and when requested to turn off the engine, drove off.

The court heard on November 12, 2022, at 6.50am the accused was allegedly captured on CCTV stealing a tyre from a vehicle on a nature strip in Bundoora.

The court was told at 7.55am, police saw the accused driving in a Bundoora shopping centre however he took off at a fast rate.

Const Molan said police alleged they had to avoid being hit by the accused who collided with the driver’s door of the police divisional van - no one was injured but the incident was captured on CCTV.

The court was told that at 8.02am on the same day, the accused was clearly depicted on CCTV driving into a fuel service station and filling the Holden Ute to the value of $106.78 of fuel but left without any attempt to pay.

The court heard that later footage in Mill Park allegedly showed the front right wheel of the ute Mr Hickson was driving came off and the vehicle crashed - the accused left on foot and a bystander contacted triple zero.

Const Molan said police attended the scene where the vehicle was left and lifted fingerprints that were later identified in a report to belong to the accused.

The court heard during police search of the vehicle they located packaging of an air gun that comes with a magazine. The vehicle was unregistered.

The court was told the latest charge Mr Hickson faced for which he was bailed related to police attending his address in Osborne Court with a warrant for failing to appear regarding the firearm offences.

Const Molan said on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 5.50pm, police attended the address where they allegedly located firearms and ammunition including a fake rifle on the wall of the accused’s bedroom, a gel blaster under the blanket on his bed that was loaded, three handguns and a live shotgun shell. The accused was not located at the residence.

The court was told that investigations lead police to another address at 9.50pm in Warrnambool where Mr Hickson was hiding in a bedroom wardrobe, and was alleged to have said “be careful, I’m armed”.

Const Molan said the accused was also alleged to have later told police he loves firearms and if he gets out, he is going to purchase more of them.

Mr Hickson’s defence, Xavier Farrelly, told the court his client identified as Aboriginal and that was an important and salutary point as it could play a role in his client’s rehabilitation and prohibit reoffending.

Magistrate Guthrie did not decide whether to release Mr Hickson on bail last Wednesday but elected to leave him on remand overnight.

“I’ll give you my decision in the morning,” he said.

“This is far too serious.”

Magistrate Guthrie granted him bail last Thursday morning at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court with strict conditions and ordered him to reappear in the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on May 29 with an up-to-date Court Integrated Services Program report that he said had “better be nothing more than a glowing report”.

Mr Guthrie imposed a curfew and told Mr Hickson he was not to leave the state of Victoria and not to leave his place of residence unless in the company of his grandmother.