A homemade .22 handgun was found under the driver's seat during a routine traffic stop in Wendouree last year.
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Trevor Grembecki pleaded guilty to several charges, including possessing a controlled weapon and arson, at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, and will learn his fate on Wednesday morning.
According to the police summary, in one incident from November 2019, Grembecki was driving his friend's car near Amphitheatre when stopped and "decided" to light it on fire.
The police found the accused at the scene, who told them he "wanted to go to jail".
In September 2020, the accused was spotted by police driving on Learmonth Road in Wendouree, and intercepted.
A licence check revealed Grembecki was suspended, and had an outstanding warrant.
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He told officers he had a bow and arrows in his car, but no other weapons - a search revealed the homemade handgun and two rounds of .22 ammunition, as well as a slingshot.
He stated the weapons were for "self-defence".
Grembecki also pleaded guilty to an incident where he drove to the Mildura hospital and used a slingshot to break a glass door.
The court was told Grembecki had severe mental health disorders which appeared to be "treatment-resistant", however, for the first time, he had sought supported residential services.
He has served 250 days pre-sentence detention.
His defence lawyer said Grembecki's offences was "very serious" and had escalated, but it did not include attempts to hurt people, and instead sought "general attention from health services and police".
"For the first time in six years, he's agreed to be referred to a supported residential service (SRS), with the placement structured and worked out to begin (Wednesday), in an SRS that's a good fit for him," his lawyer said.
"A combination sentence is appropriate, but with treatment in the community - a community corrections order would give him a fresh start.
"It's an extra level of care, not just medicine, and we really need that extra level."
The police prosecutor pointed out some of the offences carried a 10-year maximum sentence,
"Yes, time served and a community corrections order is appropriate, however he has had (CCOs) in the past and a number of breaches," he said.
"We can't deal with 'what might be', but there is concern in the community, given his mental health and the firearm.
She noted the SRS was the "perfect arrangement" for Grembecki.
"It'd be better for him to see how he goes, to do it slowly rather than launch into a community corrections order," she said.
"The firearm is a really serious charge, but for all the other matters listed, if the accused is now released (Wednesday) and has a residence in place - meals, medications, and he's permitted to be out during the day - plus CISP bail, he'll be well-managed.
"He has to come back into the community and I think this is the best way."
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