A fitter and turner who pleaded guilty to making submachine guns that presented a “catastrophic degree of dangerousness” to the public will spend the next eight months behind bars.

Nicholas Petrovski, 36, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to possessing four submachine guns, three silencers and manufacturing weapons.

Petrovski’s industrial warehouse was raided by police in November 2016 when they found four submachine guns made with the aid of a 3D printer and a book called Expedient Homemade Firearms, the court was told.

Police also found three silencers, ammunition and a pill press at the address in Nerang.

The court was told Petrovski used his skills to manufacture the weapons which were in working condition.

The crown prosecutor, Matt Hynes, told the court police found Petrovski’s fingerprints were in the instructional book, and there were videos of him test firing the weapons.

Hynes said put in the wrong hands the guns could have caused havoc.

Petrovski’s barrister, Tony Kimmins, submitted a report that suggested his client suffered from anxiety and depression among other conditions.

The report also said at the time of Petrovski’s offending his marriage had broken down and he felt threatened by his co-accused Robert Frank Donaci.

Kimmins said his client had no criminal history and was concerned about his deteriorating eyesight due to glaucoma.

Petrovski sat in the dock wearing a suit and held what appeared to be a small bible as Judge David Kent delivered his judgment.

Kent said the potential for danger his offending posed was enormous and sentenced Petrovski to a total of five years’ prison, which was to be suspended after eight months.

Kent said Petrovski was remorseful and had shown a degree of self-loathing.