A man charged with possession of a gun and ammunition had spotted the weapon inside a vacuum cleaner before his arrest, a Supreme Court jury heard.

Stephen Thompson has been changed with one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and one count of possession of ammunition without being the holder of a licence, between a date unknown and December 16, 2022.

Detective Sergeant Odessa Phillip testified that he had interviewed the defendant with Detective Constable Llewellyn Edwards on December 17, 2022.

Ms Phillip said the defendant was cautioned and told of his rights before the interview.

In the interview, which was played to the jury, Mr Edwards told Mr Thompson that he was being questioned on suspicion of possession of a gun, a semi-automatic firearm, found on a property with which he was associated.

During the hour-long interview, Mr Thompson told the officers that before his arrest he was cleaning a shed when he found a “small blue” vacuum cleaner in the corner.

The defendant said he reached for it and saw an item, which he recognised as a firearm, inside the device. He said he placed the item back into the vacuum cleaner the way he found it.

During the interview, which had audio problems, the officers asked the defendant several questions including who else had access to the area where the weapon was found.

Earlier, firearms expert Sergeant Brian James McNab gave evidence regarding the gun and ammunition.

The trial before Puisne Judge Alan Richards continues.

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