When city police officers showed up at Patrick Lannigan's residence in November he immediately disclosed he had multiple rifles stashed under his bed.
The cops were responding to a call from his partner about an incident that had occurred at their home that fall evening.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Nov. 14, they spoke with the couple, Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek heard Wednesday.
Lannigan, who was in the downstairs of the house, indicated there were five rifles under his bed, prosecutor Robert Skeggs said.
When officers located the weapons, they seized them and soon learned the accused didn't have valid possession and acquisition licences for the unsecured rifles.
Lannigan, 69, pleaded guilty to possession of a rifle without a licence.
Noting he has no prior involvement with the criminal justice system, the assistant Crown attorney called for a discharge, forfeiture of the firearms and a weapons prohibition.
"He was upfront from the get-go," Skeggs said, telling the court there had been a lot of discussion between the Crown and defence about how to deal with this matter.
Defence lawyer Leah Policcicchio said her client, a retired iron worker, pleaded guilty and his early plea shows remorse.
Kwolek described the number of unsecured guns, stored under the bed, as a huge problem.
Calling Lannigan's guilty pleas and age mitigating, the judge decided not to register a conviction.
He ordered the forfeiture of the guns to the Crown.
As well, Lannigan must pay a $100 victim surcharge within 60 days.
Kwolek also placed him on a $500 no-deposit peace bond, stemming from the incident involving the woman.
He can have no contact with the complainant, and must remain 25 metres away from her.
Other charges Lannigan faced in connection with what occurred that night were withdrawn.