A man was found with equipment stolen from a country town CFA and a month later stole a car and failed to stop when pursued by police.
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Nicholas Paul Lee, 33, pleaded guilty to being in possession of items stolen from Millbrook CFA and drugs in March 2021 and stealing cars in April and May 2021 while on bail.
He admitted to driving in Ballarat North while disqualified and continuing to drive off after being directed by police to stop.
He is also charged with stealing a car from Bullarook, a ute from Sebastopol and a car from Bundoora.
Lee appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video link from custody on Friday for sentencing.
You need to carry those intentions out every day of every week.
- Magistrate Ron Saines
He had been in custody for 122 days.
Defence lawyer Roisin Pryor said Lee was remorseful for his actions and was willing to engage with support services.
Magistrate Ron Saines said it was not the first time Lee, a repeat offender since he was 15, has expressed a wish to change.
"You need to carry those intentions out every day of every week," he said.
Mr Saines said Lee's offending while on bail aggravated the seriousness of the 14 offences committed between March and May.
He said Lee had a significant pattern of offending and imprisonment in the past and it was his challenge to break it.
"I acknowledge in sentencing you still have family support," Mr Saines said.
"If you have stability and somewhere to live, hopefully you can do better at staying drug and crime free.
"You also have some skills and job opportunities. It is possible as a 33-year-old you can do better."
Lee was sentenced to five months imprisonment, time already served.
He will be required to complete a 12 month community corrections order with treatment and rehabilitation for drug use and supervision.
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