Jamie Ryan Watson, 23, of Lake Conjola faces a number of firearm charges after allegedly admitting to police that a rifle found in a car in Nowra in which he was a passenger was his.

Police were patrolling Moss Street in Nowra around 9.35pm on December 15 when they noticed a vehicle on the side of the road with its lights on and one of the doors open.

Officers performed a u-turn but when they returned the vehicle had moved on. They spotted the car at the traffic lights at the intersection of Moss Street and the Princes Highway, pulling it over after it crossed the intersection.

Court papers said the vehicle was being driven by a female, with Watson a front seat passenger.

Officers searched the two people and then the vehicle, allegedly finding a blue pillow case, which had something inside, in a white basket in the boot.

Watson allegedly told police it was a gun and “it’s mine”.

He told officers it was not loaded and the safety was on.

Inside officers found a Stirling Model 20 .22 calibre bolt action rifle, with a shortened barrel and stock.

They also found a magazine and a box of 30 rounds of .22 ammunition.

Court papers revealed Watson told police he had found the gun in the bush near Budgong, north west of Nowra, while on a fishing trip.

He allegedly told officers the gun and three bullets were in a box which had police stickers on it, next to an esky.

Watson allegedly told police he thought it was “cool” and took the firearm to a property at Brooman near Ulladulla where he used it to fire at a number of kangaroos.

In Nowra Local Court on Monday he did not enter any pleas to charges of possessing a shortened firearm, possessing ammunition without a licence, not keeping a firearm safely and acquiring a firearm without a licence.

He will reappear in court on January 14.

Read more: Crime/Court