A MAN has been jailed after police uncovered a pistol and drugs during a raid on a New England home six months ago.
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Phillip Brian Sisson will spend up to two years in prison for the illegal haul uncovered at the home on Waterfall Way in Ebor.
The 52-year-old has already served a quarter of his sentence, and has been behind bars since police went knocking on January 30.
In a sentencing hearing in Armidale Local Court, magistrate Michael Holmes gave Sisson a 25 per cent discount for his early guilty pleas after he admitted to all but one of the charges a day after his arrest.
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New England police went to the Ebor home on January 30 and served Sisson with a firearms prohibition order (FPO).
The New England Target Action Group (TAG) then searched the property. There they uncovered a pistol, firearms equipment, ammunition and an amount of what they allege is cannabis.
An FPO, which is granted by the police commissioner, gives police the power to search the target, his car and house randomly without a search warrant.
Sisson pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing prohibited drugs; possessing an unauthorised pistol; possessing an unregistered pistol; not keeping a firearm safely; and possessing ammunition without a licence.
Sisson had initially denied the drug supply charge against him but reversed his stance in March after being served the brief of evidence. He then pleaded guilty to supplying more than an indictable quantity of cannabis.
In sentencing, Mr Holmes said the sentence was to be partially served concurrently with other sentences being served by the offender.
The case had been adjourned from March after Mr Holmes ordered Community Corrections to prepare a assessment report into Sisson's offending and background ahead of sentencing, which was tendered in court.
Sisson will be eligible for release in January 2022.
At the time, senior New England police said the firearm seized was similar to a revolver, and said it was another example of taking illegal guns out of the community.
"This firearm was seized as a result of police serving a firearms prohibition order, and has led to another unregistered firearm being taken off the streets," New England Acting Superintendent Roger Best said at the time of the raid.