A Newcomb man who committed a string of burglaries on commercial property, including a brazen theft at the St Mary’s Football Club, is set to be released from prison.
Ricky Atkinson, 39, pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates Court to a number of burglary offences across Geelong and Melbourne, including a dead-of-night robbery at the St Mary’s Football Club armed with a hammer.
On that occasion, on November 29 last year, police found him with a large amount of cash and assorted coins after a routine patrol at 4am.
He had forced entry to the clubrooms and later pleaded guilty to burglary, theft, going equipped to steal, using proceeds of crime and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
He fronted the Geelong Magistrate Court again on Friday via video link from the Marngoneet Correctional Centre at Lara, where he has been in custody for the past 59 days.
His defence team said their client had “made some really silly decisions” but was eager to live with his girlfriend if found suitable for a Community Corrections Order.
Magistrate John Bentley questioned the suitability of such an arrangement, saying “some of your offences have been committed to try and get some money to live.”
“If he has to burgle places to live together, that is not a great start,” he said.
“And I don’t want you to have to think you will have to burgle somewhere in order to pay the rent.”
Mr Bentley said he planned to release Atkinson on May 26 and place him on a Community Corrections Order, on the proviso he lived with his parents and met strict conditions.
He will also be ordered to undertake drug, alcohol, mental health and offender behaviour programs.
“You need some stability in your life and you need some support in your life,” he said.
“Having to pay the rent, the bills, looking for work, all those sort of things add to the stress.
“Get yourself a job, and some financial security … and you can make that next step.”
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