Appearing in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Shane Downs, 28, pleaded guilty to 50 charges with many relating to offences at two major shopping centres in Ballarat and Geelong over a period of five months.

The court heard Downs, formally of Creswick, attended Stockland Wendouree on four occasions between March 29 and April 24 where he allegedly stole almost $9000 in cash and items, including a television and surveillance system, from numerous businesses at the centre.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent told the court Downs was identified through CCTV at the shopping centre.

He said a pair of shorts seen in the CCTV footage were later found at Downs’ Creswick property during a search warrant.

Senior Constable Kent said Downs told police he had “got rid of the TV already to a drug dealer in Melbourne” and had been offending to support his drug habit. The court heard on May 15 Downs was intercepted by police in Newtown, Geelong and had his car searched after police smelt cannabis.

During their search police found a small ziplock bag with a “white crystal substance”, 273 grams of cannabis in a children’s backpack and $110, believed to be proceeds of crime.

The court heard numerous messages on Downs’ phone were found in relation to the selling of cannabis.

It was also alleged Downs was involved in a number of thefts at a Waurn Ponds shopping centre between June 25 and July 19.

Downs’ defence lawyer said his client had been using drugs since the age of 14, but had recently been motivated by the birth of his second child to “change his ways”.

“He has done the wrong thing and he admits that,” David Risstram said.

“I do think this person can get himself back on track.”

Ordering a pre-sentence report, Magistrate Cynthia Toose said Downs was looking at a period of imprisonment. Downs will be sentence on November 17.