Adam Kenneth Goodacre already had multiple convictions for weapon offences on his record and was subject to a police-issued firearms prohibition order when officers discovered the gun and dozens of rounds on the afternoon of March 4 this year.

Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court reveal police pulled the car over on Shellharbour Road just after 2.30pm after receiving information the vehicle's owner was wanted on an outstanding warrant.

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They discovered Goodacre in the car's passenger seat.

Both he and the driver got out of the vehicle and it was searched, at which time officers discovered a homemade, 12-gauge, single-barrel shotgun behind the passenger's seat.

A forensic test later revealed the gun was not in working condition.

Police also found a Coles supermarket plastic bag inside the vehicle containing 34 shotgun shells.

The items were seized however Goodacre managed to flee the scene while police were carrying out the search and could not be located.

He remained at large for six days before being arrested at an address in Berkeley.

A further four shotgun shells were found in a drawer next to Goodacre's bed.

Goodacre was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station but refused to be interviewed.

He was charged with a host of firearms offences and remanded in custody.

In court this week, the 36-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of acquiring a firearm while subject to a firearms prohibition order, acquiring ammunition while subject to a firearms prohibition order and not keeping a firearm safely.

Defence lawyer Adam Booker told the court Goodacre had a lengthy criminal history spanning from 2012 to 2019 but had managed to get a job as a removalist in 2020 and would be able to continue with this work when released from custody.

He said Goodacre had had a traumatic childhood and was expsoed to drugs at the age of 13.

"He was a heavy drug user up until late last year," Mr Booker said.

"[But] he's showing some insight [into his offending behaviour] for the first time that he hasn't done in the past."

Magistrate Claire Girotto sentenced Goodacre to four months' jail, backdated to when he was taken into custody in March.

With time served, he will be released in July, but will still be subject to good behaviour bonds previously imposed on unrelated charges that are yet to expire.

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