‘Contract set on his life’: defence

Prosecutor Nicholas Batten said Vipond was found with four loaded guns — a sawn-off shotgun, two sawn-off rifles and a pump-action rifle — when they searched his then home on Durham Ct, Shepparton March 29, 2019.

Police also found 147.2g of methamphetamines and $8180 cash.

Police had gone to the house to arrest Vipond for NSW offences.

They also found ammunition, including a box of 20 rifle cartridges, a box of 44 magnum ammunition and a packet of .22 rifle ammunition, as well as firearm accessories including a telescopic sight.

The guns and ammunition were in a car with false number plates at the house.

Digital scales, new ziplock plastic bags, three mobile phones and personal cards in a satchel with the methamphetamines were also seized.

The court heard Vipond was caught trying to climb the back fence and was under police surveillance for the NSW offending that occurred earlier in 2019 when he was arrested.

After his arrest in Shepparton, Vipond was extradited to NSW to face the NSW District Court on charges of firing a firearm in a public place on January 8, 2019 and two charges of aggravated break and enter on February 25, 2019.

He was sentenced to four years and nine months with a non-parole period of three years for the NSW offences before he was released on parole and brought back to Victoria in March 2022.

In Shepparton County Court, Vipond’s defence barrister John Lavery said the reason for his client’s firearm possession and NSW offending was because he believed there was a “contract set on his life”.

He said the two charges his client was facing were “very separate offences” and this wasn’t a case where the firearms were used in relation to any drugs.

Although Vipond was now not using substances, he had a drug problem at the time of the offences and some of the methamphetamines police found were for personal use, Mr Lavery told the court.

He said Vipond had returned to live with his mother, was in a stable relationship and had found consistent full-time employment.

Mr Lavery told the court Vipond had “well and truly learned his lesson” and “regrets being involved in this offending”.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana said there was hope for Vipond’s rehabilitation; however, noted the firearm charge was serious and “causes so much fear among the community”.

Vipond will be sentenced later in February.