A backyard fire in Sebastopol burned out of control after a man thought it was safe to ignite rubbish during the fire danger period.
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Robert Creelman, 29, started the fire in a pit on Christmas Eve last year but it quickly spread to a wooden easel, couch and carport.
Creelman tried to put the fire out a number of times with a hose but was unsuccessful. He then started hosing down his house, fearing it would catch alight.
His partner phoned triple-0 for help as the fire destroyed couches and damaged the carport’s timber and laser light. The fire brigade put out the fire.
Creelman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to lighting a fire in open air during the fire danger period.
Representing himself at Ballarat Magistrates Court, Creelman said he thought he could light a fire in a pit during fire restrictions.
“I knew it was fire restrictions but I thought I could burn off in a fire pit,” Creelman said.
The scaffolder was convicted and fined $900.
Man jailed after short drive
A 50-year-old man has been jailed for one month after he drove his unregistered car while unlicensed.
On February 4, 2017, Stephen Standage drove to a Wendouree service station from a house across the road when police stopped him.
Ballarat Magistrates Court was told police searched Standage’s car and found a knife in the glove box. His car was then impounded.
Standage’s lawyer said her client had a full history of prior offences and agreed with Magistrate Louis Hill to jail him immediately.
Standage, who appeared in custody via a video link, pleaded guilty to three charges including unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered car and knife possession.
He has already served his jail sentence.
Man jailed for petrol drive offs
A Ballarat man has been jailed after he was caught stealing petrol from the same Ballan petrol station on two occasions.
Simon Vella also faced the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with a single count of driving while suspended.
The court heard Vella told police he did not pay for the petrol because he was financially struggling at the time.
As for driving without a licence, he said he was driving his girlfriend home.
Vella, who appeared in court via videolink, was jailed for one month and ordered to pay for the $75 worth of petrol he stole.
37yo murder accused to face court in May
A Ballarat man charged with murdering a 72-year-old relative in Wendouree last November will face court next month.
Shane Gannon, 37, was due to face the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via videolink.
His matter was adjourned and will next be heard in court on May 25.
Gannon faces one count of murder.
The alleged murder took place at a property in Langstaffe Drive in the early hours of November 2.
The 72-year-old victim died at the scene.
Unpaid community work for criminal damage
A Ballarat man who threw rocks through the windows of a rental property over a dispute of $10 has been ordered to undertake unpaid community work.
The Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday heard the accused threw rocks through four windows of his rental property after getting into a heated argument with his partner over $10.
“If you don’t give me the money I’ll start smashing windows,” the man threatened.
The man’s lawyer told the court the shattered windows were currently being paid off.
Magistrate Louis Hill ordered the man complete 30 hours of community work over three months.