A MAN who used a baseball bat to smash a car windscreen in Long Gully will be assessed for a "life-changing" rehabilitation program.
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James Gregory Burzacott, 33, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to charges including criminal damage and handling stolen goods.
The court heard shortly after midnight on March 19, police found Burzacott's silver Ford Territory parked outside the Bendigo RSL.
Officers saw Burzacott leave the RSL, enter his car, and drive off down Holmes Road.
The police activated their lights and sirens but Burzacott turned off at a roundabout and accelerated away.
The officers pulled out of the chase due to safety concerns. Burzacott was disqualified from driving at the time of the offending.
About 4am on March 21, police arrested Burzacott after he was found acting drug-affected near a Bendigo property.
Police searched the car he was found in and located a taser, 10ml of GHB in a hand sanitiser bottle, and 5ml of GHB in a Mentos container.
He was arrested and taken to the Bendigo Police Station, but he was not interviewed due to his drug-affected state.
Burzacott was bailed on March 29 to an address in Golden Square. The home owner informed police that Burzacott was not living there, in contravention of his bail.
About 6.30am on April 16, Burzacott went to a Long Gully property and used a baseball bat to smash the windscreen of a silver Mitsubishi. The court heard the victim was known to the 33-year-old.
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Burzacott was arrested at a Strathdale property on April 30 after trying to hide from officers.
Police searched a Holden Commodore parked at the address and found outstanding stolen registration plates and a driver's licence under a different name.
Defence lawyer Karen Chilbert told the court while Burzacott had a "significant" number of prior convictions, his offending was linked to his drug addiction.
Ms Chilbert said her client had been released from custody in September last year, but relapsed into drug use in December.
The lawyer said Burzacott needed mental health support and treatment for his drug addiction.
Ms Chilbert said that support was available through Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place, a culturally appropriate residential facility for Indigenous men undertaking community correction orders.
Magistrate Sharon McRae said Wulgunggo Ngalu could be "life-changing" for Burzacott if he was deemed suitable for the program.
"It seems like he has fallen from grace very quickly," Ms McRae said. "The residential program would be an unbelievable opportunity for him to break that cycle and get back to country."
Ms McRae adjourned the matter so Burzacott could undergo the Wulgunggo Ngalu assessment. He is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next week for sentencing.
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