A JACKASS Flat driver who almost crashed into pedestrians while fleeing from police also resisted arrest by hiding in a dam, a court has heard.
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William Eric Armour, 32, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to charges including handling stolen goods and dangerous driving while pursued by police.
The court heard between August 2019 and April this year, a number of registration plates, wallets, a passport, keys, and vehicles were stolen from properties around Bendigo and Geelong.
On one occasion, a bank card and driver's licence was stolen from a Geelong property. Those personal documents were then used to open a Bendigo Bank account in December last year.
The bank card related to that account was posted to Armour's address.
The court heard on April 27 this year, a Honda motorbike was stolen in Epsom. The bike had a GPS tracking device, which showed it was at Armour's Jackass Flat property.
Police executed a search warrant at the house on April 28 and found the items that had been stolen over the 20-month period.
Armour was arrested and interviewed, but he made mostly no-comment responses.
The 32-year-old was released on bail, with conditions including a curfew and a ban on driving.
The court heard about 5.50pm on September 10, officers in an unmarked police car saw Armour driving a utility on Olympic Parade in Kangaroo Flat.
Armour sped along Lockwood Road before turning into Carpenter Street and parking at the IGA supermarket.
The officers parked behind Armour and activated their lights and sirens, but before they could exit their car, Armour turned his vehicle on and drove onto the curb.
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The 32-year-old then drove towards the entrance of the store where two patrons were exiting. The court heard the two people narrowly avoided being hit.
Armour's tyres were screeching as he sped off down Dunlop Street, swerving across the road and fleeing police.
Police arrested him at his Jackass Flat home on September 14. Officers tried to handcuff Armour but he broke free and ran into a neighbouring dam.
The court heard Armour repeatedly ignored police's instructions. He was eventually pepper sprayed and wrestled to the ground so he could be taken into custody.
During his record of police interview, Armour denied driving in Kangaroo Flat and said he had "no recollection" of resisting arrest.
Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe said while Armour maintained he was not driving, he was willing to plead guilty to the offences because of the difficult conditions in custody.
Mr Rolfe said Armour was in the Melbourne Remand Centre where there were dozens of COVID-19 cases.
The defence lawyer said his client had already spent more than a month in isolation in custody, with visits and programs not running due to the pandemic.
Mr Rolfe submitted Armour had issues with alcohol abuse and a difficult upbringing so a community corrections order alongside a prison term would be of benefit.
Magistrate Russell Kelly indicated he would sentence Armour to five months in prison and a community corrections order.
The case was adjourned so Armour could undergo the corrections assessment. He is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next week.
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