A 43-year-old “public nuisance” who continued to drink alcohol in Ballarat’s CBD was arrested on Wednesday dancing in the rain in her bikini.
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Police arrested Yvette Hodges at the Little Bridge Street interchange after receiving complaints about her drunken behaviour.
Upon her arrest, police checks revealed the Redan woman had two outstanding warrants.
Hodges was arrested in her bikini and spent the night in the police cells for being drunk in a public place.
The Redan woman pleaded guilty to a handful of charges at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Hodges admitted she had been drunk in a public a number of times between March and December, and the more serious offences of shop theft and criminal damage.
The court was told on March 4 Hodges appeared intoxicated when she stole a bottle of vodka and a Bloody Mary mix from Duncans in Mair Street, Ballarat.
In June, the mother-of-three was seen scratching the bonnets of vehicles which were parked opposite the Ballarat courthouse. Four vehicles received scratch marks.
The court was told police saw her drinking alcohol in Little Bridge Street in September, more than a week after they issued her a warning.
The court was told Hodges was on a community corrections order until 2020.
Defence lawyer Scott Belcher said his client wanted to plead guilty early, had a limited prior criminal history and significant mental health issues.
He said the criminal damage was the most aggravating factor, while the drunkenness was more of a public nuisance or pest.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson jailed her for 10 days, telling her she was at the point she needed to dry up.
He noted Hodges did not have a criminal history before April 2017.
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