A MOUNT Pleasant man went back to burgle the house where he had attended a birthday party just hours earlier, a court has heard.
Stephen Bruce Payne, 39, waited until the victim was asleep then crept through an open window to gain entry to the house.
Payne then removed a 32-inch plasma television and remote control and crept back through the same window.
But the victim’s quick thinking eventually led police to Payne after she warned Cash Converters of the theft.
By 10am the next morning Payne had already been into the store, swapping the TV for a loan of $90.
The television, which had the victim’s initials scratched into the bottom of it, was identified by shop staff who notified police.
Payne appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday over the December 2 break-in, pleading guilty to seven charges including burglary, theft and theft of a motor vehicle.
The court heard that the latter charge related to a Suzuki sedan stolen in Frankston last October, which Payne drove around in for two months.
Police discovered Payne sitting in the driver’s seat of the car during a routine patrol in Beaufort last December.
Upon intercepting him, officers also found a stolen leg of ham and two stolen turkey breasts in the car.
Magistrate Peter Couzens jailed Payne for 14 months with a non-parole period of eight months.
Mr Couzens, who also jailed Payne last year, said the offending was made worse because he was on parole at the time.
“To say the least it’s very disappointing to see you back before me charged with similar offences,” Mr Couzens said.
Upon his sentence being handed down, Payne made a scoffing noise while a female supporter burst into tears.
Then, as he was led into the dock by police officers, Payne took off his tie and threw it to a lawyer and began unbuttoning his shirt.
Earlier, defence lawyer David Tamanika urged the court not to impose any further jail time, taking into account the 71 days Payne had already served.
“In the shadow of time in custody ... it may give the court some confidence that there is a platform to work on,” Mr Tamanika said.
“But clearly from his prior history it’s concerning to have Mr Payne back before the court.”
