Ian Edwards appeared before Armidale Local Court on Monday via video link from a corrections facility on the mid-north coast. 

The court heard that Edwards had been pulled over by police in Glen Innes on June 2 and  admitted to having a machete in the passenger section of the car and a small knife in the glove box.

“He did indicate to police it was there… there was no search of the car,” Defence solicitor Patrick Kennedy said. 

Mr Kennedy said Edwards had the knife in his car only after forgetting it was there from a previous hunting trip.

“He said he had the knife for protection when hunting pigs… [there was]  a scarab on the knife and it was sheathed,” he said.

“The smaller [knife] was used with rabbits.”

Mr Kennedy also said his client had been distracted because of family problems and forgot he still had the knives in his car.

“[He is] trying to get custody of his two kids that live with his partner in Sydney … that had been playing on his mind,” he said and added that one of Edward’s  children had cerebral palsy. 

In handing down her sentence, Magistrate Stafford decided to impose a period of imprisonment given Edwards had previously been convicted of knife related offences.

“It really makes your possession much more serious,” she said.

“[You have been given] a prior chance by a court for a similar charge.”

Edwards was sentenced to a three month term of imprisonment and the loss of his two knives.

“The weapons are to be forfeited,” Magistrate Stafford said.