A BENDIGO man who created false medical certificates to get out of community service work has been sentenced to another 100 hours of community service.
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Dean Poot, 29, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to eight charges of making a false document.
The court heard Poot created four false medical certificates between October 2017 and January 2018.
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The documents, purporting to come from an Epsom doctor, stated Poot was unfit to complete his court-ordered community service.
Poot submitted the false medical certificates to his Corrections Victoria officer to avoid having to attend.
The Epsom medical clinic in October 2018 confirmed to police the documents were false, although a doctor at the clinic had issued two legitimate medical certificates to Poot in July and September 2017.
Police arrested Poot and searched a property on May 2, 2019, seizing items including a hard drive, knuckle dusters, laptops, and USB sticks.
Poot was interviewed but provided no comment to police.
Defence lawyer Charlie Nikakis told the court Poot had issues with his leg and was receiving medical treatment for his injuries.
Mr Nikakis said Poot had spent seven days in custody as a result of the charges, and had since completed his required community service work.
The defence lawyer submitted Poot should spend no further time in custody for the offending.
Magistrate Sharon McRae said Poot's actions were "pretty appalling".
"You were always going to get caught out," she said. "I'm pretty unimpressed. You were given a court order on the basis of trust and you snubbed it.
"You tried to wriggle out of community service work, so I think you should do more."
Poot was convicted and sentenced to seven days in prison, which was reckoned as already served.
He was also handed a 12-month community corrections order with 100 hours of community service work.
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