A US woman who flew to Australia with a gold-plated pistol in her luggage has been sentenced to a year in jail, despite claiming she brought it with her for protection.
Liliana Goodson pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing an unauthorised firearm and illegally importing ammunition.
On Monday, the 30-year-old was sentenced in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court to the 12-month jail term, of which four months will be served in full-time custody.
Goodson was taken into custody immediately following the hearing and forced to remove her extensive jewellery before being handcuffed and led from the court.
She was initially arrested at Sydney Airport in April 2023, after customs officers uncovered the 24-carat gold-plated pistol, worth about $3000, in her luggage.
The court was previously told she had come to Australia to attend clown school and claimed she brought the gun for protection.
Goodson had searched online whether she was allowed to bring the weapon into Australia, despite telling officers at the time she forgot she had it with her.
When asked at the airport if she was carrying any prohibited items with her Goodson claimed she was not, the court was told.
"What about the gun in your bag?" she was asked by a customs officer.
Goodson replied: "Oh yeah, I forgot about that."
A review of Goodson's phone revealed she had searched online "can I have a gun in my suitcase?" and set a calender entry with a note reminding her to "put gun in suitcase".
Magistrate Susan Horan said there was a strong need to deter others from committing similar offences in the future, which could only be achieved by way of a period of incarceration.
"Australia has a strong stance against firearms," she said.
Prosecutors submitted earlier that the gun looks particularly confronting and would "terrify members of the community", which Ms Horan agreed with.
Goodson told police she was actually "scared" of shooting the gun and hoped simply producing it would be enough to deter potential threats.
"If that didn't do it I would probably just pistol whip," Goodson was quoted as having said.
When asked where she planned to store the gun while she was in Australia, she indicated under a vehicle's passenger seat, the court was told.
The court was told in recent years, Goodson was using psychedelic drugs, synthetic cannabis and crystal meth amphetamines.
