Joseph Johnson, 35, stole a car after taking keys from the jacket of a patron at the Minerdome Sports Club on July 3, the Ballarat Magistrates Court heard.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Pepe Brown said while a patron at the sporting complex went outside for a cigarette, Johnson grabbed the victim’s car keys, later driving the vehicle a short distance before dumping it and fleeing on foot.

The court heard that three weeks later, Johnson was observed removing a line trimmer and lawnmower from a trailer parked outside a Ballarat house.

When later questioned by police, Johnson admitting to stealing the car, stating he was “disgusted with himself”, but denied stealing the gardening equipment, according to Leading Senior Constable Brown.

The court heard that on August 17, police were called to a Creswick property where Johnson had suffered a drug overdose.

Leading Senior Constable Brown said police searched Johnson and found knuckle dusters and cannabis, later telling officers “he should be dead” after waking up in hospital without recalling what had happened.

Johnson, who was caught stealing alcohol on two separate occasions in February, was apprehended by Coles security on October 2 after trying to leave the store with items valued at $230.

The court heard that later that day Johnson was intercepted by police driving a vehicle, which had been started with a screwdriver, in central Ballarat. He told officers his friends had lost the vehicle’s key, before fleeing on foot. 

Johnson pleaded guilty to several charges including two counts of theft. Johnson’s defence lawyer said his client, who had a history of cannabis and heroin abuse, had begun to use methamphetamine in early 2013, which could be blamed for the offending. 

Magistrate Cynthia Toose placed Johnson on a 12-month community corrections order, describing his behaviour as “totally unacceptable”. 

Johnson, who had been in police custody since September 12, also had his driver’s licence suspended for 12 months.