A Wendouree man serving a 38-month sentence will serve a second sentence concurrently after he pleaded guilty to multiple drug, driving, and theft offences.
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Zachery Taylor-Pring appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video-link from custody, accused of stealing a woman's car from Alfredton and attempting to strip it for parts.
Police from the Divisional Response Unit executed a warrant at his address in October last year after she spotted a Facebook Marketplace ad for Ford Territory parts, and she recognised the car in the photo.
Officers found the car in the rear of the address partially stripped.
Its number plates, key, gear stick, and roof racks were found in the accused's bedroom, as well as other stolen goods, firearms, and suspected proceeds of crime.
In a police interview, Taylor-Pring admitted to stealing the car.
He was also accused of stealing petrol from a service station in Miners Rest in a car with modified plates, which he admitted to being false.
In separate incidents, police observed Taylor-Pring exit an unroadworthy car in Redan with a tyre worn down to the steel belt in April last year. He was stopped by police, who spotted a pocket knife inside the car.
A search of his bag revealed a quantity of "vegetable matter", white powders, a pill, smoking paraphernalia, a set of scales, and a casino membership card in the man's name.
His probationary license had been suspended due to demerit points.
Police also found an extendable baton and five various knives in the car, and a later search of the bag revealed 2.11 grams of methamphetamine.
He provided a no comment interview to police at the time.
Later that evening, Taylor-Pring was spotted driving a different car with non-matching number plates in Redan - an oral fluid test returned a positive reading, and later analysis revealed the presence of meth and cannabis.
He said in a police interview he had last consumed drugs three days prior, and was unaware the plates were false.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson said he would fine Taylor-Pring $1500 for some of the offences.
He also sentenced him to nine months in jail, to be served concurrently.
Taylor-Pring will be eligible for parole next October.
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