People arming themselves as part of Shepparton ‘drug war’, police claim

He is charged with possessing a firearm while a prohibited person, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, failing to stop on police direction, assaulting an emergency worker on duty, resisting an emergency worker on duty, careless driving, drug driving, two counts of burglary, two counts of theft, retention of stolen goods and dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit First Constable Trevyn Pinto told the court police found a sawn-off .22 calibre bolt-action rifle in a gun bag in the garage at Mr Webster-Mill’s house when they went there for a search warrant.

First Constable Pinto said police believed the gun had been stolen.

Mr Webster-Mill also told police he knew the location of three more firearms but would not tell police where they were, First Constable Pinto said.

Police also allege Mr Webster-Mill broke into the Telstra shop at Shepparton Marketplace through the roof of the building on September 28 and stole $2350 worth of items, including two laptops and an Xbox One S.

Police allege that three days later, Mr Webster-Mill broke into The Good Guys in Benalla Rd, Shepparton, before cutting through the roof to gain entry between 7pm on Sunday, October 1 and 8am on Monday, October 2.

First Constable Pinto said about $3000 worth of items were stolen from the store, including wireless doorbells, CCTV cameras, security cameras, spotlight cameras and an outdoor camera.

When police went to search his Shepparton house on Monday, October 2, Mr Webster-Mill sped off in his car when police told him to stop, First Constable Pinto said.

The court heard he collided with a fence in Maude St before running off and hiding in a skip bin.

Police later found him in the driveway of a house in Wyndham St, and after police handcuffed him, Mr Webster-Mill attempted to headbutt them.

First Constable Pinto said police found two knives in the door of Mr Webster-Mill’s car, while doorbells, security cameras, spotlight cameras and an outdoor camera that police say was stolen from The Good Guys were found hidden in the boot under the lining.

A search of his Shepparton home found an Xbox One S controller police say was stolen from Telstra in his bedroom. The gun was also found in the garage during this same search.

First Constable Pinto told the court Webster-Mill had “an extensive criminal history” that included 20 prior convictions for contravening bail conditions, and he was using methamphetamines.

First Constable Pinto also told the court that in early September, police had responded to a 000 call where they received information Mr Webster-Mill’s car had been carjacked by Stanley Turvey — who was later that month shot by police after three days on the run while armed with a gun.

Mr Webster-Mill did not want to make a statement about the alleged carjacking and did not want police to investigate the matter, First Constable Pinto said.

“We believe he is involved in a drug war in Shepparton where people are arming themselves with firearms,” First Constable Pinto said.

The officer said police were concerned about Mr Webster-Mill possibly having access to other guns, as well as his “high-risk driving”.

Mr Webster-Mill’s solicitor Brigid Westgarth told the court she thought any unacceptable risks could be ameliorated with strict bail conditions.

She also said there was a house he could live at on bail, and Mr Webster-Mill “had a strong desire” to take part in a drug residential rehabilitation program, which would not be available for three weeks.

Magistrate David Faram, however, refused bail, saying he was not satisfied concerns about ongoing offending could be addressed.

He said the summary “suggests a significant amount of planning” for the burglaries and thefts, and the discovery of the sawn-off gun in the garage and the admission he had access to other firearms were also concerning.