Scott Pearce, 26, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, being a prohibited person possessing a weapon and using methylamphetamine. 

The court heard Pearce’s latest offending was in breach of a suspended sentence after he was jailed in May last year for similar offending. 

Yesterday, police prosecutor Senior Constable Pepe Brown told the court Pearce was arrested on January 23 after his mother earlier attended the police station with two of four stolen guns that police had been hunting. 

Following his mother’s attendance at the station, police executed a search warrant at her home and found the two remaining guns, the court heard. 

Senior Constable Brown said Pearce had been staying at his mother’s home after being released from jail, yet had been forced out due to an intervention order. 

The court heard the guns had been stolen from a 77-year-old victim’s Gregory Street home between January 11 and January 14.

Mike Wardell, for Pearce, said his client’s criminal history was concerning, adding that Pearce knew he was facing another period behind bars. 

“It’s a matter of how long,” Mr Wardell told magistrate Cynthia Toose. 

Mr Warell said his client, who suffered from a learning difficulty, had been co-operative with police and had made “full and frank” admissions. 

Touching on the drug use charge, Mr Wardell said Pearce was now aware the drug ice was a vice which he needed to stay away from. 

Although impressed by Pearce’s realistic outlook, Ms Toose slammed his offending and said the community would not tolerate such behaviour. 

Scott was jailed for six months, with two months to be served concurrently. 

He was also fined $300.