Despite not securing the "best" accommodation, Ballarat burglar and thief Benjamin Boyle does not need to use drugs, a court has been told. The 39-year-old man was sentenced to five months' imprisonment at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including burglary, theft and criminal damage. Magistrate Letizia Torres said Boyle's offending was serious because it occurred over seven months, ending in March this year. "The burglary involved some planning and you were on two community corrections orders. You have priors for similar offending which goes against you," Ms Torres said. The magistrate raised concerns at last week's plea hearing Boyle had not secured stable accommodation upon his eventual release from custody. The court was told on Friday Boyle would have a place to live at a friend's house or Peplow House when he is released. "If your accommodation isn't the best, it doesn't mean you have to take drugs," Ms Torres told Boyle. Boyle's defence counsel had told the court Boyle's offending occurred to support his drug addiction. On October 20, Boyle stole an electric hoist from Ballarat's Bunnings Warehouse to exchange for drugs. He attended Myer Ballarat on February 14 when he selected two remote control cars worth $129 each from the toy department. He walked out of the store without paying for the items, which were in his arms. Boyle returned to Myer Ballarat on March 23 when he selected a Playstation and walked out of the store without paying. He was captured on CCTV on both occasions. In other theft incidents, Boyle stole an iron press from Spotlight in Wendouree and a Lego set from Toyworld Ballarat. Police arrested Boyle shortly after he burgled a Delacombe business. Police members received reports of a man cutting a hole in a fence of a Latrobe Street business and attended the premises. They saw Boyle outside the door of the main factory. Boyle told police he just went in to look around and he found a phone on a barrel on the outside of the premises. The court was told Boyle was remanded in May and he damaged a Ballarat police cell blanket twice by pulling it and using a zipper from his pants. Following the five-month prison sentence, Boyle will be placed on a six-month community corrections order with a condition he will be under supervision by an advanced supervisor. The magistrate sentenced him to the order despite him being found unsuitable because his offending had breached a CCO. "The ball is in your court now. The help is there," Ms Torres said. Boyle has served 113 days of his sentence by pre-sentence detention. If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Despite not securing the "best" accommodation, Ballarat burglar and thief Benjamin Boyle does not need to use drugs, a court has been told.
Benjamin Boyle, 39, of Ballarat.
The 39-year-old man was sentenced to five months' imprisonment at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including burglary, theft and criminal damage.
Magistrate Letizia Torres said Boyle's offending was serious because it occurred over seven months, ending in March this year.
"The burglary involved some planning and you were on two community corrections orders. You have priors for similar offending which goes against you," Ms Torres said.
The magistrate raised concerns at last week's plea hearing Boyle had not secured stable accommodation upon his eventual release from custody.
The court was told on Friday Boyle would have a place to live at a friend's house or Peplow House when he is released.
"If your accommodation isn't the best, it doesn't mean you have to take drugs," Ms Torres told Boyle.
Boyle's defence counsel had told the court Boyle's offending occurred to support his drug addiction.
On October 20, Boyle stole an electric hoist from Ballarat's Bunnings Warehouse to exchange for drugs.
He attended Myer Ballarat on February 14 when he selected two remote control cars worth $129 each from the toy department. He walked out of the store without paying for the items, which were in his arms.
Boyle returned to Myer Ballarat on March 23 when he selected a Playstation and walked out of the store without paying. He was captured on CCTV on both occasions.
In other theft incidents, Boyle stole an iron press from Spotlight in Wendouree and a Lego set from Toyworld Ballarat.
Police arrested Boyle shortly after he burgled a Delacombe business. Police members received reports of a man cutting a hole in a fence of a Latrobe Street business and attended the premises.
They saw Boyle outside the door of the main factory. Boyle told police he just went in to look around and he found a phone on a barrel on the outside of the premises.
The court was told Boyle was remanded in May and he damaged a Ballarat police cell blanket twice by pulling it and using a zipper from his pants.
Following the five-month prison sentence, Boyle will be placed on a six-month community corrections order with a condition he will be under supervision by an advanced supervisor.
The magistrate sentenced him to the order despite him being found unsuitable because his offending had breached a CCO.
"The ball is in your court now. The help is there," Ms Torres said.
Boyle has served 113 days of his sentence by pre-sentence detention.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
