Man on his way to a pirate-themed party sparks utter terror leading to a major police operation – after grabbing a ‘display’ item from his nan’s house to complete the Johnny Depp look

EXCLUSIVE

A man with a skull and crossbones tattoo under his right eye sparked a major police operation when he pulled out a replica flintlock pistol which he took to a pirate-themed party.

Adam Nunan claimed he had no intention of alarming anyone and only pulled the Pirates of the Caribbean-style weapon from his waistband because it felt comfortable.

The 34-year-old nevertheless pleaded guilty to using an unauthorized firearm when he stood before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday to explain his actions to a magistrate.

Nunan’s troubles began shortly after he left his grandmother’s house in Cooyong Crescent in Toongabbie in Sydney’s west about 5.20pm on December 20.

A few minutes later he was seen by a member of the public carrying a small side bag and what appeared to be a menacing looking firearm.

That person called Triple Zero and reported “an unknown male stumbling along Cooyong Crescent carrying a sawed-off shotgun,” according to a statement of facts tendered in court.

“The man held the firearm up at his side before concealing it in his waistband,” the statement said.

“The suspect was last seen driving south-west along Cooyong Crescent towards Toongabbie train station.”

A police report was issued describing Nunan as a white man with a thin build, wearing a white shirt, blue shorts and a black hat.

According to the statement of facts, ‘this information was broadcast over police radio and led to an immediate response’.

‘Numerous police officers’ soon arrived at Toongabbie train station and began searching for the suspected armed suspect.

At 5.35pm, plainclothes officers identified Nunan matching the description of the wanted man as he walked through a unit block connecting Cooyong Crescent to Wentworth Avenue.

Police got out of a vehicle and approached Nunan as he crossed Wentworth Avenue and entered the train station, activating their body-worn video cameras.

Officers then approached Nunan from behind, grabbed his arms and arrested him while announcing who they were.

Nunan, from Eastwood in Sydney’s northwest, was handcuffed and police found the “sawn-off firearm” tucked into his waistband.

“Police carefully and gently removed the firearm from the suspect’s waistband and removed it from the immediate location,” the statement said.

‘The police investigated the suspect, but turned up nothing of interest.

“The firearm was identified as an imitation flintlock pistol with a 9-inch steel barrel and an 8-inch stock.”

‘The firearm consists of a brown wooden stock leading to the flint and trigger mechanism, followed by the steel barrel.

“The firearm was made as secure as possible at the scene while police dealt with the suspect.”

When Nunan was formally arrested, he said of the imitation gun “it’s been in my grandmother’s house for 20 years” and “it’s just a showpiece.”

Nunan was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he agreed to an electronically recorded interview.

“During interrogation, the suspect made admissions about obtaining and brandishing the firearm,” the statement of facts said.

‘The suspect told police that he had taken the firearm from his grandmother’s home.

“He told police he couldn’t fit the firearm in his side bag, so he placed it in his waistband to take the firearm home.”

On Monday, Nunan’s lawyer told Magistrate David Price that his heavily tattooed client was planning to attend a pirate party and that the imitation gun was part of his costume.

Nunan had not intended to frighten any member of the public and had not wanted to carry the weapon in the open, but had removed it from his waistband because it caused discomfort.

The lawyer asked Price to imagine the type of pistols carried by characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, such as Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow.

Nunan, who is unemployed and caring for his terminally ill mother, had made “full and frank admissions” and was sorry for what he had done.

Mr Price accepted that ‘there was no real intention here to cause any concern to members of the public’.

He hoped Nunan had “learned a hard lesson about which theme parties to go to” and what props to take with him.

Mr Price also warned that no one should be allowed to walk the streets with a device that resembles a firearm. He convicted Nunan and fined him $600.