A street artist touted as "Australia's Banksy" has walked out of his final court appearance a free yet "destitute" man.
Anthony Lister, 45, fronted Sydney's Downing Centre on Friday more than six years after being charged with a litany of drug and firearm offences.
Lister was arrested on March 10 2020, the same day police executed search warrants on his home, studio and storage units across Sydney.
Officers uncovered two 6mm air pistols, which use compressed air to shoot small metallic pellets, in Lister's bedroom in Darlinghurst.
A black magnetic box was also found hidden in a fireplace containing 2.5g of cannabis, 0.46g of methamphetamine and 0.19g of dexamphetamine — prescription ADHD medication.
Metal knuckle dusters were later found at his Marrickville studio, while 0.9g of ketamine and 0.23g of hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine were discovered at his Waterloo storage unit alongside 0.54g each of prescription medications Quetiapine and Temazepam.
He pleaded guilty to three weapons charges and seven drugs offences earlier in 2026.
Lister appeared in an all-black suit for his sentencing and sketched the courtroom while waiting for the judge to call his case but sat pensively as his defence, Claudette Chau, argued for leniency to be shown his way.
Chau told the court the police raids and subsequent charges had been spurred by sexual and indecent assault allegations levelled against him by several women.
A jury found him not guilty on two of the sexual assault charges and another of indecent assault in December 2024. He was later acquitted of all remaining charges related to the allegations.
But Chau told the court the accusations alone were enough to derail his career and resulted in both he and his family being harassed online and in person.
"He is now destitute, he lives with his girlfriend in a share house," she said.
"His artworks are not sought after as they once were, his name has been tarred forever.
"My client leaves the court today a ruined man."
Chau argued the air soft pistols were being used for live art, where Lister dressed as a police officer, while the knuckle duster was made of silver and actually a piece of jewellery he had worn to a fashion show.
The substances found at his properties were also claimed to be "left over drugs from parties" he had attended or hosted.
Lister acknowledged his wrongdoing in not seeking a permit for the firearms and that he had a drug problem, appearing in court "clean" after attending rehabilitation.
The raids were one of many on his properties in the six years since the charges were first laid, leading to him growing "really scared" of police.
"(Lister) absolutely fears them," Chau told the court, arguing the anxiety is enough of a deterrence to reoffending.
Chau pleaded for Judge Robert Williams to avoid convicting him on the firearm offences as it meant police could randomly enter his home.
"Hasn't my client suffered enough?" she said.
After deliberating the lawyer's request, Williams took into account the punishment he had experienced outside of the court's control and the weeks he spent in custody - where he was assaulted and "extorted".
Lister stood still before Williams as he convicted him without penalty on seven counts of drug possession and possessing a knuckle duster.
He was then granted no conviction on the firearms charges but forced to pay a $1500 fine.
