A MAN who stole a trailer from a Castlemaine business and repeatedly breached bail has pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ali Houli appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He admitted to charges including theft, driving without a licence, exceeding the speed limit, driving an unregistered vehicle, and breaching bail conditions.
The court heard about 2.50pm on May 5 this year, Houli was stopped while driving on the Calder Freeway in Faraday.
Police say he was towing an unregistered trailer that was carrying a motorbike.
The court heard Houli was driving 125km/h and showed an expired South Australian licence when asked by police.
Houli was on bail at the time and operating a motor vehicle was in breach of his bail conditions.
Read more court news: Gerard Ridsdale gets further jail time for child sexual abuse
The court heard about 7.45am on May 6 this year, Houli went to a Castlemaine business.
A trailer was out the front of the business and Houli took the trailer without paying for it. The theft was reported to police.
The court heard Houli was arrested at a caravan park in Castlemaine on May 8. Police say he was living there in contradiction of his bail conditions.
The court heard the trailer Houli stole was found at the caravan park. The trailer had a roll bar removed and there was a missing number plate.
Houli told police he had removed the roll bar so his motorbike could fit on the trailer.
The court heard in November last year, Houli was driving in Altona North with a protected person.
He was intercepted by police for a licence and registration check. He produced a South Australian licence to police.
The court heard Houli's Victorian licence was cancelled in 2018 and his registration was also cancelled.
Houli's defence lawyer told the court Houli would plead guilty to all charges, except one charge of dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The charge was in relation to the motorbike that police found on the stolen trailer. The defence lawyer said Houli had purchased the bike for $6000.
The defence lawyer told the court Houli had already served five days in custody, and he had an acquired brain injury, anxiety, ADHD, and memory loss issues.
Magistrate Patrick Southey said Houli would be sentenced to five days jail, reckoned as already served, for the charges he pleaded guilty to.
Houli was granted bail to contest the charge of dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
"You have an infuriating propensity to ignore bail conditions," Mr Southey said. "But while these charges are extensive, they are not that bad. Five days in jail would be enough for a sentence."
Houli is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later this year for other matters.
His bail was revoked for those charges on Monday, so he will remain in custody until he is granted bail for those matters.
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.