Sean Johns appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday. 

A police prosecutor told the court on July 13 last year, Johns was observed driving down Marigold Street in Wendouree, where he ignored a give way sign, resulting in him having to “brake to avoid a collision”. 

Police intercepted the vehicle due to the erratic driving, and when Johns came to a stop, he mounted the kerb. He had a blood alcohol reading of 0.142 and was driving while disqualified. 

On January 14, the court was told by the police prosecutor that after Johns had drinks with an acquaintance, an argument about vehicle keys “escalated into a physical fight”, before Johns smashed three windows of the victim’s house with a baseball bat. Every window of a sedan parked in the driveway was also smashed by Johns in the incident, with a total damage cost of around $959. 

When visiting his father in Bacchus Marsh on March 23, the court heard Johns had consumed a number of alcoholic drinks during a barbecue, before walking to McDonald’s. 

The police prosecutor said after take-away was purchased, Johns accused employees of not getting his order right, before becoming agitated and throwing a pot plant at staff behind the counter. The court heard Johns threw two more pot plants at the store’s manager, before trying to run up from behind and kick them. 

Defence lawyer Defence lawyer Adrian Paull conceded it was “pretty terrifying conduct” from his client, but said Johns had “put in a significant investment of time” to change his behaviour. 

“He’s 18 weeks into a men’s behavioural change course,” Mr Paull said. “It is clear the alcohol feeds into anger management issues that have come to the fore in two of these matters.”

The defence lawyer said there was limited prior history of violent offences from his client, and Johns has stopped drinking to excess. 

Magistrate Letizia Torres said Johns’ conduct was “just out of control”. 

“It is really worrying you have behaved in this way,” she said, referring him to be assessed for a Community Corrections Order. 

Johns will return to court for sentencing by Ms Torres on January 25.