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A Ballarat magistrate has sent a stern message about improper storage of ammunition after a young Wendouree man was caught with shotgun shells in his vehicle. Danyon Clarke was caught with ammunition in his vehicle and has been convicted, despite not having a criminal record. Police saw Clarke walking to his vehicle parked outside a Delacombe address on March 2. They stopped the 23-year-old in the court, noticing he was nervous when speaking to them. Police then discovered he had 14 shot gun shells and two .22 bullets stored in his vehicle. Clarke pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday to one charge of carrying ammunition. Representing himself in court, he only spoke when magistrate Ronald Saines asked him a litany of questions around his firearm use. Clarke said he had a firearm's licence but had sold his guns. He said he planned to renew his licence and continue to use another person's gun when hunting at Carngham. Mr Saines said the firearm crime had to be treated seriously. The self-employed carpenter was convicted and fined $400 with $81.10 to be paid in court costs. He did not have a prior criminal history.

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