Quenten Beer, 31, appeared in custody in Ballarat Magistrate’s Court this week facing 19 charges, including creating, affixing and driving with home-made registration plates.

Two charges were later withdrawn and Beer pleaded guilty to the remaining charges.

The court heard that on 27 October 2016, police were called to an Alfredton residence and saw the accused’s vehicle with false registration plates, made from chip board. 

The registration plates were confiscated but on 27 November 2016, police observed the accused’s vehicle with another set of home-made registration plates attached.

On 21 December 2016, a driver (later identified from CCTV records as being the accused) drove off without paying for $73.91 worth of fuel. That vehicle also carried false registration plates. Beer was arrested on 16 March 2017 on outstanding warrants.

On 13 January 2018 at 8pm, police stopped a red Holden sedan at Delacombe driven by the accused who had a cancelled licence and registration plates that did not match the vehicle.

The police prosecutor detailed more instances, including possession of a black Mazda RX7, later identified as stolen on 17 June 2018.

Defence representative for Beer said his client had been in custody for 93 days, that he had been living out of his car but that his sister had offered him a home. 

After lengthy consideration, Magistrate Ron Saines sentenced Beer to a cumulative jail period of three months and varied the CCO to a supervised 18-month order to include drug and mental health treatment. “You can count your lucky stars you have a sister,” he said.