Air pistol in bag at airport | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton

Rocky man arrested at Brisbane airport

ANDREW Matt Ackers tried to get an air pistol through airport security and was locked up the same night his sick grandmother died.

Last month, the 20-year-old checked into Jetstar at the Brisbane Domestic Airport before attempting to check in his carry-on luggage through the screening point.

Mr Ackers was away to visit his sick grandmother at the time.

The security officer identified a suspicious item as Ackers’s bag went through.

The officer emptied the bag out in front of Ackers to discover parts of an air pistol dismantled with the pieces scattered throughout.

A black balaclava and red pellets were also found in his bag.

Police were called to the airport to question the accused.

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Anita Sharma yesterday told a Rockhampton court that when Ackers was questioned he told police he didn’t have time to pack his bag so a friend did it for him.

Ackers was told by his friend that there was a “toy gun” in his baggage, and he didn’t realise it was capable of firing.

He told police that he knew it was illegal to carry a firearm into an airport but didn’t declare the gun because he thought it was a toy.

Ms Sharma explained that under the Aviation Act, an air pistol is deemed a weapon and the gun had been lodged for disposal.

Police were able to put the pistol together in less than five minutes.

At the time of the incident, on January 22, Ackers was on bail for drug and other weapons offences.

Ms Sharma said it was not credible that Ackers simply said and thought it was a toy gun.

Defence lawyer Stephanie Nicholas said Ackers was running late to the airport so he had a mate pack his bag for him.

Ms Nicholas said his mate told him that there was a toy gun in his luggage to give to a mate’s girlfriend in Rockhampton.

“He’s flown many times and knows the rules. He didn’t have any intent to do anything stupid,” Ms Nicholas said.

She said her client was in a rush at the time of the incident and couldn’t explain why he didn’t check his luggage before going through security.

While Ackers was remanded in custody overnight in Brisbane, his grandmother passed away.

Ackers was sentenced to six months in jail and was yesterday released on a three-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to carrying a weapon through a screening point and the unlawful possession of weapons.

He faces fines of up to $4250 if he re-offends.