A THIEF stole keys to a Mercedes from a Bendigo house as the occupants slept, then drank their beer before driving off in the $40,000 car, a court heard.
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Police prosecutor Senior Constable Mark Snell told Bendigo Magistrates Court Aaron Burzacott, 24, entered the Murphy Street home through unlocked doors some time between 10pm on August 22 and 7.45am on August 23.
He said Burzacott, who pleaded guilty to a total of nine offences on Thursday, stole the car keys and a mobile phone valued at $250 while the occupants slept in their bedroom.
Defence lawyer Stephen Brooks said his client only had vague recollections of the burglary because he was high on ice - crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Sen-Constable Snell said Burzacott, of no fixed address, entered an unlocked shed at the back of the property and stole alcohol from a fridge.
"The defendant drank one of the stubbies and left the empty bottle in the rear yard," Sen-Constable Snell said.
The disqualified driver drove the Mercedes Coupe to a public car park in Eaglehawk and took the car keys with him, the court heard.
Police recovered the vehicle later that day and found Burzacott's fingerprints at the burgled home, the prosecutor said.
Police arrested Burzacott about 12.40am on August 30, after he was involved in a brawl.
Burzacott tried to punch one of the officers and was sprayed with OC foam, the court was told.
Magistrate William Gibb said Burzacott kept committing the same offences, with the exception of the aggravated burglary, which he described as a significant elevation in offending.
The court heard Burzacott was depressed and devastated after his grandmother - his only support - died last year.
He found it difficult to find somewhere to live because there was a long waiting list for public housing, and he slipped back into drugs.
"On the inside, he doesn't use drugs at all, even though they're available and offered to them, he just doesn't use them," Mr Brooks said.
Burzacott has breached community based orders, intensive corrections orders, a suspended sentence and parole.
Mr Brooks said his client planned to rebuild his life, get off drugs and return to the Northern Territory to reconnect with his father.
Mr Gibb jailed Burzacott for 12 months for his latest offences, allowing for 23 days already served, partly so he could get help from professionals including doctors and other specialists inside.
"He can work towards parole by being fair dinkum about his drug problem," Mr Gibb said.