'It's a bloody joke!': Farmer threatens knife-wielding trespasser with a rifle and turns him in to local police, only to have officers come back and SEIZE all of his guns

  • Father-of-three David Dunstan was woken up in the night by an armed intruder
  • The trespasser was armed with a knife and a seven-foot long piece of redgum
  • The farmer unlocked his gun cupboard and went outside with his .22 calibre rifle
  • He forced the man into his car as his wife called police, who picked up the man
  • Later that morning officers returned to confiscate all three of Mr Dunstan's guns

By Sam Duncan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:57 EST, 16 September 2017 | Updated: 12:04 EST, 16 September 2017

A farmer who confronted an armed trespasser with a rifle and turned him in to police has been left shaking his head after officers came back and seized all of his guns.

Father-of-three David Dunstan was asleep on his rural property at Bungawannah in New South Wales when his dogs started barking at 3:30am on Thursday.

Upon seeing a strange man, Mr Dunstan unlocked his gun cupboard and grabbed the nearest firearm - an unloaded .22 calibre rifle.

A farmer who confronted an armed trespasser with a rifle and turned him in to police has been left shaking his head after officers returned and seized all of his guns (pictured, stock image)

A farmer who confronted an armed trespasser with a rifle and turned him in to police has been left shaking his head after officers returned and seized all of his guns (pictured, stock image)

Mr Dunstan said the intruder proclaimed he 'didn't want any trouble' after spotting the weapon.

Mr Dunstan's wife called the direct line of the local police.

Mr Dunstan told Daily Mail Australia he used the gun 'as a prop' to calm the man down and force him into his vehicle.

Officers from Albury Police Station 15 kilometres away met the farmer on the road and took the man into custody.

But later on Thursday, officers returned to the property and confiscated Mr Dunstan's three firearms - all of which are registered.

'I'm just shaking my head thinking "What else could I have done?" It's a bloody joke,' said Mr Dunstan.

Father-of-three David Dunstan was asleep on his rural property at Bungawannah (pictured, stock image) in New South Wales when his dogs started barking at 3:30am on Thursday 

Father-of-three David Dunstan was asleep on his rural property at Bungawannah (pictured, stock image) in New South Wales when his dogs started barking at 3:30am on Thursday 

'The gun wasn't loaded and I didn't even point it at the bloke, didn't need to, he calmed right down when he saw it.' 

'What was I supposed to do? By the time the police got here, would they have taken 15 minutes? 20 minutes? I've got three kids in the house.'

Police confirmed they seized three firearms from a Bungawannah property.

Officers from Albury Local Area Command arrested an 18-year-old man and charged him with aggravated break and enter with intent - armed, and enter building/land with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The man appeared at Albury Local Court on Thursday and was refused bail to appear at the same court on November 6, 2017.

Officers from Albury Police Station (pictured, stock image) 15 kilometres away met Mr Dunstan on the road and are believed to have taken the man into custody

Officers from Albury Police Station (pictured, stock image) 15 kilometres away met Mr Dunstan on the road and are believed to have taken the man into custody

Comments 99

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.