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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Man faces court over homemade guns, theft of 1200 litres of diesel

A 28-year-old man has been arrested following a police operation in Muswellbrook.

A man remains behind bars on a string of charges including allegedly stealing a trailer of diesel fuel - worth $37,000 - possessing homemade guns, and firing a rifle on a road in the Upper Hunter.

Joshua Claude Bowman did not personally appear in Singleton Local Court on Thursday when 17 counts against him were briefly mentioned before Magistrate Kevin Hockey.

Police arrested the 25-year-old Denman man as they raided a Muswellbrook premises on Wednesday afternoon, when they allegedly found him in possession of two homemade firearms - a "pen gun" and shotgun - as well as a loaded shortened rifle and shotgun ammunition.

Police also found a stolen Holden Colorado at the property.

According to court documents, it came a day after Mr Bowman allegedly stole a fuel trailer containing 1200 litres of diesel - worth $37,000 - from Blackrock Industries at Castle Rock, northwest of Muswellbrook.

He is also facing charges for allegedly possessing a loaded .22 calibre rifle, and firing it on a Denman road on Saturday evening in a "manner likely to injure a person" - namely himself.

Among the charges are three drug supply counts - cannabis and methylamphetamine - along with a charge of aggravated break and enter while armed with a machete, and intentionally destroying/damaging property - a Holden Cruise.

These relate to alleged incidents last August and September.

Police made the arrest after they formed Strike Force Kilbride to investigate the shooting at Denman earlier this month. All the weapons have been seized.

The court heard on Thursday the charges were "strictly indictable", meaning they would be sent to Newcastle for the next mention on March 20.

He did not apply for bail.

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