A BATESFORD man stole more than $50,000 of wool from properties in the Geelong region to fund his ice addiction, the Geelong Magistrates Court was told.
The court heard that Daniel Harriot, 26, targeted rural properties at Anakie, Avalon, Ballan, Wingeel, Deans Marsh and Moolap for their remoteness where he stole 40 bales of wool to finance his methamphetamine addiction, or ice as it is commonly known.
Mr Harriot pleaded guilty to the six counts each of theft and burglary following half a dozen wool heists between February and April this year.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Beard said, between February 22 and April 22, Mr Harriot had forced entry into shearing sheds to steal wool bales.
Sgt Beard told the court, on March 31, when he and a co-accused attempted to steal a 20 litre fuel can from Wingeel property he was intercepted by farmers who used their tractors to block the road Harriot was driving on.
“The owner of the property was driving past when he saw Harriot sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked ute on his property,” Sgt Beard said.
“Harriot drove along a train line before realising it wasn’t leading anywhere. He then did a U-turn and drove back but farmers blocked the road with their tractors.”
The prosecutor said on April 28 police seized about three tonnes of wool, worth $15,000, from a residence linked to Mr Harriot, belonging to the victim of Moolap burglary.
Police also seized 14 chaff bags of assorted wool, 1.5 pressed bales of wool and 11 empty bales from the property.
Sgt Beard told the court Mr Harriot had sold portions of the stolen wool, in four lots from 108 to 1300 kilograms, at Ackroyd and Dadswell wool brokers, North Geelong and Barwon and Yarra Valley Wool Brokers, Winchelsea between March and April.
He was arrested at Geelong Hospital on April 30 where he made a full admission to the thefts.
Mr Hariot's lawyer, Shane Balkin said his client had no priors and had been "brought down" by his ice addiction that was an "expensive habit".
Magistrate John Lesser said he had considered a jail term but felt there was potential for Mr Harriot to rehabilitate.
"Ultimately you need to realise and change this behaviour because inevitably there will only be one outcome," Mr Lesser told Mr Harriot.
He was placed on a two-year Community Corrections Order with 240 hours unpaid community work.
Mr Lesser said the sentencing reflected the gravity of the offending and warned of potential imprisonment if Mr Harriot breached the CCO.
