‘Very disturbing’: Rifle-brandishing man jailed after forcing primary school to lock down

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A Melbourne man who forced a primary school into lockdown by brandishing a loaded gun during a street fight last year has been sentenced to jail but could be out early next year.

Jackson Delmo and a friend visited a milk bar on Bellbridge Drive in Hoppers Crossing on September 12 last year when they found themselves in an argument with two brothers that escalated into a physical fight.

Jackson Delmo was jailed after being found guilty of various weapons offences in Melbourne County Court.Credit: Wayne Taylor

The County Court heard that during the fight, Delmo, 25, ran to a nearby property and retrieved a loaded, sawn-off rifle before threatening the other men with the weapon in front of shocked onlookers.

Judge Trevor Wraight said that after the incident, Delmo and his friend returned home, placed a black bag in a Mercedes parked in the driveway, before later returning to place the bag – with the gun inside – inside the home.

He said CCTV footage showed Delmo and a friend moving the car into the backyard just before noon as police began to arrive in the neighbourhood to cordon off the area.

The property and the nearby Bellbridge Primary School were subsequently locked down, the judge said, as specialist police were called in to help arrest Delmo.

He was arrested at about 1.30pm, nearly two hours after the fight, but refused to comment when interviewed by police.

During a search of the property later that day, police found weapons, including ammunition in the boot of the car, a Taser and further ammunition in the console of the vehicle, and two loaded firearms – a sawn-off rifle and a Glock – hidden between the walls of two sheds.

An imitation handgun was also found in a gaming bag in the garage.

Delmo was on bail at the time.

“While not planned, you certainly made a choice to go to your home … obtain a firearm and return to the scene in order to confront the victims and place them in fear,” the judge said.

“While the confrontation with the victims with a weapon is serious conduct, what the police found upon searching your car and home is very disturbing.

“In your vehicle, the police found numerous rounds of ammunition, a baton and a Taser. On your property, the police found two loaded weapons, a sawn-off rife, and a Glock handgun. Also found was the imitation firearm.

“It’s undoubtedly serious conduct.”

Delmo later pleaded guilty to eight charges, including assault, possessing a firearm and an imitation firearm while a prohibited person, possessing ammunition without a licence and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Wraight jailed Delmo – who appeared in court via video link on Wednesday – for 30 months with a non-parole period of 15 months.

With time already served, he could be released early next year.

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