A BENDIGO burglar is facing a lengthy jail term after he broke into and stole from several properties during a New Year's crime spree.
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Jayden Pearce, 29, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to charges including burglary and theft.
The court heard sometime between December 31, 2020, and January 1 this year, Pearce broke into a property on Upper California Gully Road in California Gully.
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He stole three watches from a bedroom, which were valued at a total of $1300.
Pearce also stole four wallets that contained various cards including an expired driver's licence.
The court heard Pearce then went to a property in Thunder Street in North Bendigo, where he broke in through a bathroom window and stole a $1300 computer and a mountain bike.
The two victims contacted police after they returned home on January 1 to find their items stolen.
Detectives attended the two properties and found Pearce's fingerprints around the houses.
Sometime between January 5 and January 6, Pearce broke into a black Renault parked on Nelson Street in California Gully and stole a backpack, which contained keys to an Isuzu.
He then broke into an Eaglehawk property where he stole antique sewing equipment and a cordless drill, valued at a total of $20,890.
In the same timeframe, Pearce also broke into properties around California Gully, East Bendigo, and Long Gully.
He stole more laptops, jewellery, passports, tools, and wallets.
Pearce was arrested in Long Gully on January 7 after he tried to flee from police on foot. He denied the offending during his police interview.
Defence lawyer Robert Timms told the court Pearce had been struggling with a "raging drug addiction", which had led to an "extensive" criminal history.
Mr Timms said Pearce had been released on bail to a rehabilitation facility on May 28 but checked himself out of the centre on May 31 because he did not want to participate.
The defence lawyer said given the attempt at rehabilitation had not worked and community corrections orders had previously failed, prison was the only option.
Mr Timms said a jail term with a parole period would be appropriate because parole would provide more structure for Pearce when he was released back in the community.
Magistrate Russell Kelly agreed that a lengthy jail term with a non-parole period was the appropriate sentence.
Mr Kelly adjourned sentencing to allow the prosecution and defence to agree on what charges needed to be withdrawn.
Pearce was remanded in custody and is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court later this week.
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