A man who stole a stamp collection worth $20,000 from a Flora Hill home will spend at least four months in jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leigh Anthony Bastin, 34, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court to burglary, three counts of theft, handling stolen goods, possessing cannabis, possessing amphetamine, possessing ecstasy, possessing 1,4-butanediol, failing to answer bail, resisting an emergency worker on duty and committing an indictable offence on bail.
The court heard police attended a North Bendigo address on January 16 after a stolen vehicle was seen there.
When they arrived, Bastin was seated in the front passenger seat.
The stolen vehicle was reversed into the police car, forcing the officers to run to avoid being hit themselves.
The stolen vehicle was unable to push the police car out of the way, but Bastin refused to get out and became "extremely hostile", the court heard.
Police used pepper spray but he still resisted arrest, and had to be dragged from the car.
The court was told it became apparent that Bastin was heavily substance-affected, and he told police he had used methamphetamine and heroin just prior to his arrest.
At the scene police found a large amount of goods stolen in the weeks prior, including a stamp collection worth $20,000.
It had been taken from a Flora Hill property during a burglary earlier in the month, a crime linked to Bastin through forensic evidence.
At the time of the burglary, Bastin was on bail.
Other stolen items found included perfume, watches and jewellery.
Police also uncovered illicit drugs.
Bastin also stole meat from a supermarket in Castlemaine and a can of premixed alcohol from a Bendigo store last year.
More court news: Teenager found guilty of the 2018 murder of Maryborough man
He also admitted to breaching a community corrections order.
Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe said Bastin had gained an insight into his offending and drug use, and wanted to do something about it.
The court heard Corrections Victoria did not recommend Bastin be placed on a community corrections order, but Mr Rolfe asked magistrate Patrick Southey to consider sentencing Bastin to a term of imprisonment and an order.
"He's someone who needs intervention upon release, he needs assistance with his drug problem, Mr Rolfe said.
For Bastin to benefit from a parole period, he said, he would need to be sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, and he submitted the offending did not warrant such a sentence.
But Mr Southey said Bastin had committed a high-value residential burglary and had prior convictions for similar offences.
Mr Southey sentenced Bastin to 12 months's imprisonment with a non-parole period of four months, with 47 days already served.
He said this offered Bastin the best chance at rehabilitation
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.