Nathan Treacy appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to 10 offences including theft, a number of driving charges and using cannabis. 

The court heard Treacy was arrested on November 23 in 2014 after he and a co-accused were involved in the theft of items from a car in Ballarat East.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sam Young said Treacy and a co-accused walked along Sheehan Court searching for unlocked cars. He said once an unlocked car was found, Treacy would keep watch while the co-accused searched inside.

Treacy told police they searched when they were out of money and would sell any property they found for cash. 

Treacy’s defence lawyer said her client was taking drugs and homeless at the time.

“He said 2014 was a bad time ... he was totally off the rails”, she said.

She said he had since stopped taking drugs and turned things around.

With a limited criminal history, she urged the magistrate to consider a fine.

On the using an unregistered vehicle, using cannabis and careless driving charges, Magistrate Michelle Hodgson convicted and fined Treacy $750. He was also ordered to complete 25 hours of community work for the remaining charges.