A 41 year old man who allegedly went on Boxing Day spree of theft and destruction in Wendouree has been refused bail.
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Matthew Den Ouden of Wendouree appeared in the Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being arrested in broad daylight in School Lane on Wednesday.
Police allege on December 26 at 9am, the accused entered a gated driveway of a sleeping victim and ripped the flywire off the door. The informant said at 10.30am, the accused returned to the same property and kicked the gate, before yelling that “his brother in heaven told him to kill the victim’s husband”.
Den Ouden visited a Wendouree bottle shop at 10.57am, where police allege he stole three longneck beers and a bottle of Stone’s Ginger Wine. At 2.40pm, he returned to the store and took another bottle of wine. At 2.45pm, the police informant said Den Ouden smashed a house’s front window, before ending up on Gillies Street at 3.35pm, where he threw fence palings at a passing taxi driver. Five minutes later, the accused tried to rip the spoiler off a red Holden sedan. Police told the court the total alleged damage bill was $580.
Throughout the bail hearing, Den Ouden mumbled under his breath from the dock, before repeatedly swearing at the police informant and the magistrate.
Magistrate Peter Reardon told the accused, “if you can't behave yourself and don't keep quiet, you won't be able to apply for bail today, it's up to you.”
Den Ouden, who appeared on behalf of himself, told the court he should be given bail to visit Grampians Mental Health Services.
"I’m psychiatrically insane, that's what they tell me, I should at least be assessed for it or something," he said.
Police opposed the bail application, with police prosecutor Senior Constable Helen Farmer stating the accused was a danger to the general public.
Mr Reardon said it was clear Den Ouden was “not in great shape”, having been unable to be interviewed by police since his arrest.
“Under usual circumstances of this alleged offending, he would be granted bail. But he has a significant history in recent times and non-compliance of court orders of any type,” he said.
The accused was remanded in custody until January.
