POLICE have dropped all rape charges against a man accused of sexually abusing a woman near Tamworth.
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But Zeb Levi Nye remains behind bars and will be sentenced later this year after admitting to 10 firearms and weapons charges.
The 30-year-old was facing six allegations of sexual intercourse without consent, as well as an additional charge of sexual touching without consent.
Nye was accused of a series of sexual assaults on one woman at a Manilla home in the early hours of November 7. Police arrested him about three hours after being notified of the allegations.
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Nye appeared in Tamworth Local Court this week via video link from prison where all the sex abuse charges were withdrawn by prosecutors.
He then pleaded guilty to possessing an unauthorised firearm; and two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol.
Nye also admitted to two charges of not keeping a pistol safely; as well as not keeping another firearm safely; two charges of possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit; possessing ammunition without a licence; and possessing a prohibited drug.
Two charges of possessing an unregistered pistol; as well as possessing an unregistered firearm that's not prohibited were withdrawn and dismissed.
After the guilty pleas, magistrate Roger Prowse made an order that all weapons and goods be forfeited to the Crown.
The weapons - which police maintained were gel firearms - were seized at the crime scene in Manilla by police at the time.
Mr Prowse also ordered an assessment report be prepared by Community Corrections officials into Nye's background and offending ahead of sentencing in August. He was refused bail.
Gel firearms are prohibited weapons due to their similarities to military weapons, the court has previously heard.
In January, Nye lashed out in court, telling the magistrate at the time "this is ridiculous" and accusing police of withholding crucial evidence - a claim denied by prosecutors at the time.