A former Mongrel Mob member was sentenced to community detention when he appeared before Judge Dominic Dravitzki in the Ashburton District Court on Monday.

Wakanui farm manager Reece Hemi, 35, had earlier admitted the illegal possession of a knife and 308 Bergara bolt action rifle in a public place, as well as failing to provide police with the code to unlock his phone, when the car he was travelling was pulled over on Valentine’s Day this year.

Judge Dravitzki said police had been called to two aggravated robberies involving Mongrel Mob members.

The car Hemi was travelling matched the description of one of the vehicles involved in the robbery and was pulled over at about 9pm on February 14.

Hemi was wearing a Mongrel Mob patch and supporters gear but there was no allegation that Hemi was involved in the robberies, the judge said.

Police found a large knife in an unbuckled sheath, which would allow it to be removed easily.

They also found a gun and scope with two rounds loaded.

According to the pre-sentence report Hemi had been a gang member since his teens but had now officially left the gang.

Judge Dravitzki said police and corrections had “some misgivings” about that.

Hemi had a spate of eight convictions on relatively minor matters between 2006 and 2008 and had moved to Ashburton over a decade ago to “get away from the trouble you were getting into”, and had effectively done that.

“The unlawful possession of a firearm was more serious when loaded - and more serious again when associated with gang activity and potential criminal offending,” Judge Dravitzki said.

Hemi told police the rifle was used for hunting and there was no suggestion that he was involved in the robberies. However, the unlawful possession of a firearm by a gang member - and close at hand – was a “matter of real concern”, the judge said.

“The starting point is a term in prison.”

However, Judge Dravitzki gave Hemi credit for his “offending-free history for more than a decade” and for leaving the gang.

Hemi was sentenced to four months’ community detention with a curfew of 8pm and 4am daily.

By Sharon Davis