A WENDOUREE father-of-three with a long criminal history was yesterday jailed for stealing beer from a garage.Leigh John Parkes, 25, had committed more than 60 burglaries since the age of 15, a court heard yesterday. He yesterday pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and three counts of theft. He also admitted to breaching an Intensive Corrections Order he was serving for a string of charges including criminal damage, burglary and theft.Ballarat Magistrates Court heard Parkes had noticed a carton of Crown Lager in an open garage adjoining a house on January 31. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Bob Anderson said Parkes had stolen the beer and also loose change in a car, totalling $68 in value.Parkes returned to the same garage on March 17 and entered through the roller door stealing 36 stubbies of alcohol worth $50, the court heard.On April 6, Parkes attended the address again and after finding the roller door locked forced open a window and stole items to the value of $170, including a carton of Crown Lager and tools. Sgt Anderson said police attended Parkes' address on May 2 and recovered tools from the garage including a drill and saw which they returned to their owner. Parkes told police: "I was just drunk and wasn't really thinking about what I was doing," the court heard. Defence lawyer Mike Wardell said Parkes first appeared in court on burglary charges as a 15-year-old with an addiction to heroin. Mr Wardell said Parkes' main problem was now alcohol. The court heard Parkes had "sought solace in the bottle" after returning to Ballarat from Queensland where he had experienced a period of stability and not committed any crimes. "He took on too much too soon and couldn't cope," Mr Wardell said.Mr Wardell said Parkes hoped to return to Queensland when he was released from jail.Magistrate Terry Wilson said the Intensive Corrections Order Parkes had been serving had been an "absolute failure".Mr Wilson yesterday cancelled the order and told Parkes he would instead spend 159 days in jail. On the theft and burglary charges Mr Wilson convicted Parkes and sentenced him to six months' jail. "I think Ballarat has had its fill of you," Mr Wilson told Parkes."Perhaps sunny Queensland deserves your talents."Parkes was jailed for a total of more than 11 months.