A Wangaratta magistrate has ordered a Benalla man who broke into an elderly couple’s home and stole their car to complete 120 hours of community work. The 25-year-old appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Friday, having been released from custody since his last appearance at court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in the early hours of 1 May last year, breaking into a Benalla home and stealing a white utility parked in the garage. He drove the ute to Wangaratta, allegedly with three other co-accused and was spotted at Bunnings Warehouse later that morning. Around 12:30pm detectives tracked the utility, with stolen number plates affixed, to a Wangaratta home frequented by the accused and he and two others fled police while a fourth accused was arrested inside the home. The defendant would later be charged with the offending on 3 July last year after a search of his home. He also pleaded guilty to assault of his neighbour, an elderly woman, hitting her in the head with a piece of plywood. The court heard the man had been in and out of custody numerous times since the offending due to several warrants being issued for his non-appearances in court. A community corrections order assessment heard in court revealed the defendant was concerned about “being locked up” and prolonged the matter being heard in court. Magistrate Megan Casey said the delay in proceedings ultimately fulfilled the defendant’s fears, ending up in custody on Monday. “When something gives you anxiety like that, tackle it head on, don’t dig a hole and hide in the sand,” she said. Magistrate Casey imposed a 12-month community corrections order which would include 120 hours of community work, supervision and treatment for drug abuse and offending behaviour programs. “Treat the order like a job and I’d argue it’s more important than a job,” she said.
