Man left gun, ammo at bakery

A man who mistakenly left a rare World War 1 pistol and ammunition at a Hawke's Bay bakery is in custody awaiting sentence for his blunder.

Gillies Tangatakina MacDonald, 45, from seaside settlement Waimarama, faced charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm, ammunition and cannabis when he appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday.

The court was told he walked into a Havelock North bakery on May 6 and left behind a bag containing a 1916 German Luger pistol, 34 bullets and some cannabis, the Hawke's Bay Today newspaper reported.

MacDonald, who does not have a firearms licence, returned two days later to ask staff if they had seen it.

He was directed to the police station, where he claimed he had found the pistol on the side of a road.

Judge Tony Adeane was sceptical about the explanation.

"These things are as rare as hens' teeth, as is the ammunition," he said.

Judge Adeane said MacDonald had a long criminal history and the fact he had taken a pistol into a coffee shop was worrying.

MacDonald was convicted on all charges and remanded in custody for sentencing on August 11.

- NZPA