Woman sentenced after rifle given to her by a gang member is discovered in her Whanganui home

Police discovered a .303 calibre rifle, ammunition and a cannabis plant at the address of Sharon Renee Henry. Photo / Bevan Conley

A judge has said that the courts come down hard upon people caught in the possession of firearms, particularly when gang unrest or allegiance is involved.

Whanganui Police discovered a .303 calibre rifle under pillows in the bedroom of Sharon Renee Henry when carrying out a search in August 2018.

Henry told police the gun was given to her by a family member, who is allied to a gang, for her protection.

Ammunition was also found, but it was identified as unsuitable for a .303 and the gun itself was discovered to be unloaded.

Judge Philip Crayton disputed Henry's explanation at a court appearance on January 9 this year.

"The fact [the gun is] unloaded reflects that your explanation was, and I use the term advisedly, totally incredible and unbelievable," the Judge said.

"The logical explanation that you were holding it for someone else is absolutely on a par with what we see day in, day out, particularly following the death of somebody by a shooting involving a gang."

There are currently two cases before the court stemming from murders in Whanganui in 2018.

James Butler was found dead at a Wikitoria Rd property on April 22 and subsequently six men were charged with his murder. They have pleaded not guilty and will go to trial in May 2020.

Kevin Ratana was gunned down outside his Puriri St home on August 27 resulting in seven men being charged with murder. They were revealed to be Black Power members at a court appearance on February 8.

Henry appeared before the court again for sentencing on Monday having pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and possessing a cannabis plant.

Judge Crayton noted it was her first appearance for serious offending in 20 years and that she had previously never appeared for possession of a weapon.

"This happened at a time when there was considerable unease in Whanganui and it immediately followed a death within the community at a time where a firearm was used.

"You need to understand very clearly that possession of a firearm, loaded or otherwise, is something which the courts come down hard upon.

"They come down particularly hard when it has in the background the spectre of gang unrest or alliances and the potential availability for access by those in such a situation."

Judge Crayton sentenced Henry to six months' community detention and 12 months' intensive supervision.

He also ordered destruction of the weapons, ammunition and cannabis.