A Seddon man panicked and threw a pistol out of his car before he was stopped by police in Napier, his lawyer says.
Fraser John O'Connor, 27, a farm worker, admitted possession of methamphetamine and cannabis and unlawful possession of a pistol, when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court this week.
Police prosector Sergeant Graham Single said police found O'Connor in Napier after reports he had the pistol.
Mr Single said police searched O'Connor and found a sealed plastic bag containing methamphetamine and cannabis plant material.
He had thrown the pistol out of his car window before he was searched, but helped police find it, Mr Single said.
The gun was given to him by a member of his family, he said.
Defence lawyer Gary Sawyer said O'Connor went to Napier after a relationship breakup. Friends called police because they thought he might try to take his own life.
He had a firearms licence but did not have an endorsement for the pistol. Mr Sawyer said he panicked and "unwisely"got rid of the pistol, then helped police find it.
Since the incident O'Connor had returned to Marlborough and was working.
Judge Bruce Davidson convicted O'Connor and sentenced him to 140 hours' community work.
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