Former Queensland Police Service employee avoids jail after stealing weapons, hiding them in the roof

A former Queensland Police Service employee and army reservist has avoided jail after pleading guilty to stealing 42 weapons from his workplace and hiding them inside his roof.

Craig Robert Everett, 34, was sentenced to two years jail but immediately paroled and is disqualified for holding or obtaining a weapons licence for five years.

Mr Everett was working as a property officer at the Central Exhibits Facility at West End when he stole the weapons.

Of the 42 weapons found, seven were working firearms. The stash also consisted of components, a silencer, flick knives and capsicum spray.

Some had the serial numbers removed.

The court heard of “lax procedures” at the facility which enabled Mr Everett to steal the weapons, some “effortlessly.”

The father-of-one claims he didn’t intend to sell the weapons or use them for criminal activity, but instead has a "passion" for collecting guns and gun parts.

The thief was caught in March 2018 when he was home alone his garage checking an 8mm glock. He didn't realise it was loaded and shot himself in the hand.

Mr Everett called paramedics and told them the injury was from an angle grinder.

Then he later claimed it was caused by a firearm he was licenced to possess but he left a bloodied handprint on the ceiling, which led the discovery of the weapons stash.

In sentencing Judge Vicki Loury said "there existed a danger that these unregistered firearms could fall into the wrong hands because they were unsecured in your home and untraceable by police."