A 52-year-old man will face court after he allegedly allowing his 13-year-old son to drive unlicensed and possess firearms.

Sergeant Conan Robertson said members of the Southern Traffic Operations Unit were conducting a rural patrol around 1:40pm yesterday (Thursday October 13) when they pulled  over a Toyota Hilux Dualcab  for a roadside breath test on Coniston Road about  160 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

“Police found a 13-year-old boy driving the unroadworthy vehicle with a loaded .22 bolt action rifle in the front seat. The rifle had nine rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber,” Sgt Robertson said.

“There was also a 20 gauge shotgun and a high powered .243 rifle laying across the back seat with more than 100 rounds of ammunition.

“The vehicle was unroadworthy with severe damage to the front end and the bonnet was held down with a tie-down strap. The vehicle also had a damaged front windscreen.  At the time the driver was also towing a dead donkey behind the vehicle. The animal had been tied to the towbar with a chain.”

Police took the child back to a nearby station and spoke to his father.

“The father will be summonsed for numerous offences including delivering a firearm to an unlicensed person, failing to secure a firearm and permitting an unlicensed shooter to possess a firearm.

“The firearms were seized and the boy will be considered for Youth Diversion for  traffic and firearms offences.

“It is very disappointing to find the child was out there armed with firearms and driving an unsafe vehicle with the full knowledge of his father,” Sgt Robertson said.

“We certainly hope that the fact the father will now face court will make others consider their actions before engaging in such reckless behaviour.”

Note: Photo attached – courtesy NT Police

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