Robert Williamson pleaded guilty in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday to a number of charges, including drug possession, fail to answer bail and burglary.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Pepe Brown told the court Williamson was arrested shortly after 9pm on April 2 after he was seen riding without a helmet or lights along Gillies Street.

During a search police found methamphetamine wrapped in foil in his pocket, which Williamson said was rock salt he intended to sell as ice. He also gave police a fake name.

The court also heard Williamson’s DNA was linked to a historic burglary at a Talbot Street residence on February 20, 2013.

Leading Senior Constable Brown said Williamson smashed a window and filled a pillowcase with $1250 worth of items, including a drill, laptop, statue and skateboard.

Blood found at the house was linked to Williamson two years later.

When he was arrested over the matter in 2015 police found four grams of cannabis on him.

During an interview he said he could not recall the burglary because he was drug affected at the time.

Williamson’s lawyer Mike Wardell said his client had spent 12 days on remand over the charges and was currently complying with the credit bail program. He said Williamson’s drug use was triggered by the death of his grandfather, but he had since stopped using them. 

He added his client was a new father, which motivated him to stay clean of drugs.

Magistrate Kay Robertson said while she considered Williamson’s progress, she also considered how the victims felt.

”Generally people who commit burglaries go to jail,” she said.

Given the changes Williamson has made in his life, Ms Robertson said she was willing to give him the chance to complete a community corrections order (CCO).

Sentencing was adjourned until Thursday so a CCO assessment could be completed.

In a separate case, a 23-year-old Ballarat man facing 19 charges, including burglary and handling stolen goods, was refused bail.

Jamie Hancock was remanded to reappear in court on August 9.