A Ballarat man who drove while disqualified, assaulted two people on the same night and resisted police arrest has received a six-month stint in jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warren Carter was handed a $3550 fine for stealing a carton of milk and phone charger cord, drink-driving, using an unregistered car, damaging police cells and a Reid's Guesthouse door, and being drunk in a public place.
He was also banned from driving for two years.
At the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to the 19 offences committed in 2018 and 2019.
The court was told Carter was driving an unregistered car while disqualified on August 8 when he recorded a BAC reading of 0.103.
Ten days later, police stopped him driving the same silver Holden in Sebastopol while he was a disqualified driver. Then five days following that, police saw him sitting in the car with the keys in the ignition.
The court was told on February 11 Carter was leaving the Ballarat Police Station when he headbutted a man he knew.
Carter then walked to a nearby supermarket where he threatened to assault a busker, placing him in fear of his safety, because he thought he was playing sad music.
Defence lawyer Cameron Baker said his client fell off the rails three years ago when his partner died and he turned to alcohol and illicit substances.
He said the offences were minor and the 129 days he had spent in custody was sufficient.
But magistrate Leonard Brear disagreed, saying Carter had an extensive criminal history.
"You have hurt a lot of people, you have hurt yourself. You have not endeavoured to stay out of trouble, to get a job and make your own way," Mr Brear said.
Carter has already served 129 days in custody.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
