A BALLARAT man stole more than $10,000 worth of goods from four different premises, each time leaving traces of blood that linked him to the crime, a court has heard.
Among Shane Jonathon Foley’s string of burglaries, he broke into the business he had been fired from just weeks before.
The 49-year-old appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, where his lawyer initially asked for a sentence indication.
But after magistrate Andrew Capell refused, Foley decided to plead guilty to all charges.
The court heard that in February 2010 Foley broke into Delacombe business Electro Power and Data Equipment, from where he had been fired three weeks earlier for “lack of work”.
Foley stole a computer and tried to find a cash box he had seen while working there.
But his attempts failed and he cut himself when trying to force open a draw.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Bob Anderson said that Foley’s most recent break-in was in April last year, when he smashed a window and gained entry to a business on Dana Street.
Foley had also been there before.
He cut himself while entering the property, and stole a laptop worth about $1000, Sergeant Anderson said.
Foley also faced charges over two residential burglaries in Melbourne’s western suburbs in 2001 and 2005.
On the first occasion he got away with more than $6700 worth of goods, while on the second he was disturbed and had to make a run for it.
The court heard that defence lawyer Ray Alexander had previously asked for a sentence indication, and was told Foley could receive a three month jail term.
Magistrate Andrew Capell quickly refused the second request.
Mr Alexander did not make any submissions on sentence as the case was adjourned to July 19 to enable a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
He did, however. urge the court to adjourn for a longer period so Foley “could get his affairs into order”.
“We’re seeking some time to get some money together to ensure he’s got his property when he is released (from prison),” Mr Alexander said.
That request was also rejected.
Foley pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and four of theft.
