A number of Ballarat residents who left their windows and doors unlocked had expensive household items stolen to fund a drug habit, a court has heard.
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The Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday heard Paul Romei burgled houses on Otway Street, Steinfeld Street and Hopetoun Street between March and May, entering through unlocked doors and windows and taking off with thousands of dollars worth of household items.
Romei then pawned a number of the items, including a $2000 electric guitar for $150 and a chainsaw and lawn mower valued at $900 for $90, to help fund his drug habit and everyday living.
The court heard on another occasion in April, Romei was walking in Peake Street when he saw a motorcycle on the veranda of a house. Jumping the fence, he took the motorcycle and lifted it back over the fence before walking away with it.
Arrested shortly afterwards, he told police he planned to sell it for petrol.
Romei was arrested again in July after he was seen with a knife in the sleeve of his jumper in the Bridge Mall.
Police also found cannabis on him, which Romei claimed was synthetic cannabis with the street name "Vampire".
As for the knife, he told police he carried it around for safety reasons after being assaulted the previous week.
The court also heard Romei had previous been charged earlier in the year after driving under the influence of ice and being involved in a petrol drive-off.
Romei appeared in court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to all offences.
His lawyer, David Taminika, told the court his client had a long history of mental health issues and drug use which he said may be linked to the offending.
Mr Taminika said Romei began drinking and using cannabis from age 12, which lead into heavier drugs by his late teens.
He said Romei was sentenced to imprisonment with a parole period in 2005, but had remained out of trouble until this offending.
Urging the magistrate to consider sentencing Romei to community-based rehabilitation, Mr Taminika said the successful complete of parole showed his client was compliant with rehabilitative court orders.
Sentencing was adjourned for four weeks so medical documents can be obtained.
Romei will be sentenced on February 7.
