Damien Dunbar, 31, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to handling stolen goods, burglary, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, unlicensed driving, failing to answer bail and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Police prosecutor Samantha Owen told the court a man reported a burglary at his Yarroweyah property on August 2, having found a number of items missing from his house and a shipping container.
Among the stolen items was a large quantity of ammunition and firearm-related items including to self-load ammunition, along with clothing and other miscellaneous property.
Police later recovered some of the victim's property from a lagoon in Koonoomoo.
After a search warrant was executed at a co-accused's property, police viewed CCTV depicting the co-accused returning with Dunbar to the property at 2.10 am on August 1, with the co-accused allegedly carrying a large bag.
Interviewed after being arrested on August 31, Dunbar made no admissions to the burglary but admitted he had handled the stolen goods and disposed of them, stating he had been set up.
Ms Owen told the court police had previously executed a search warrant at Dunbar's house on March 25 in relation to a burglary in Cobram in on March 20.
Police found Dunbar wearing a gold necklace, watch and ring, which the victim later identified as stolen items.
The court heard Dunbar had breached an 18-month corrections order, which started on February 9, including by recording seven unacceptable absences from drug treatment and rehabilitation and supervision.
Defence barrister Glenys Jardine told the court Dunbar had a "very sad history" including being sent to prison a number of times.
She submitted Dunbar had taken the significant step of stopping his heroin use. She asked that he be assessed for a further corrections order now he had "kicked the drugs", stating it had been "very much the driver for the behaviours".
Corrections Victoria representative Allan Mitchell told the court Dunbar had failed to complete any of his seven previous corrections orders and noted there was no evidence before the court to support the assertion he had stopped using drugs.
Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum found only a term of imprisonment was an appropriate sentence, stating Dunbar had previously been given opportunities and continued to reoffend.
Dunbar was given a total effective sentence of eight months’ jail, four days of which had been served in pre-sentence detention
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