Duer Yoa.
ONE of Ballarat’s most promising distance runners has fronted court over an Australia Day booze break-in.
Duer Yoa, 22, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to attempting to commit an indictable offence.
The court heard that during the early hours of last Australia Day, Yoa and another man climbed over a locked side gate at the Bridge Hotel in Ballarat.
The pair selected a keg of beer and attempted to lift it over the fence, but got caught in the act.
As police arrived Yoa and the other man attempted to flee over the roof but were apprehended by police.
Yoa then gave a fake name and address to police.
Defence lawyer Erica Contini said the incident was “a bit of a wake-up call” for her client.
“At the time he had been drinking with a friend and was intoxicated,” she said.
Magistrate Michelle Hodgson said she accepted Yoa was previously of good character, giving him a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.
“I’m going to put it down to youthful foolishness,” she said.
“This is property that belongs to a business that works hard.”
Earlier this month Yoa won the Victorian half marathon in his first attempt at that distance, sprinting to victory over the last 200m.
Last Saturday, Yoa was also in the Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre team that finished second in the Coliban Ekiden relay.
