Byron Denny, 25, will spent the next 20 months in prison receiving a reduced sentence in light of cooperation with police to recover stolen items and leading detectives to other criminals. 

His recent criminal offending spans from August 2016 to February 2017 and ranges from breaking and entering into shops to driving an unregistered vehicle. 

In October last year, police were called to E.E Day & Sons in Wendouree when the store’s alarm was tripped shortly after 4am. 

Denny gained entry to the store by jumping the rear fence and climbing into the building via a window.

He jimmied open an internal door and searched the store, attempting to steal items including $2500 worth of of gold nuggets.

When police arrived, they found Denny hiding in a storage cupboard.

The court heard in most cases when Denny was interviewed, he was remorseful, cooperative, and made full admissions to his crimes. 

Denny’s defence lawyer said he deserved some leniency as the information he provided on other criminals was useful to police. 

Magistrate Gregory Robinson said there was a pattern to Denny’s crimes. 

“He has been been crime free for most of adult life and it’s clear his drug use compels him to short spans of offending,” he said. 

“He had cooperated with police and he's not just made admissions but assisted in detection of other crimes, which makes protective custody more burdensome.” 

Mr Robinson said had it not been for Denny’s police cooperation, he would be facing a period of three years without parole.