A former Wimmera man who caused property damage worth almost $13,000 has been sentenced to a suspended jail term.
A former Wimmera man who caused property damage worth almost $13,000 has been sentenced to a suspended jail term.
Matthew Lansdell, 19, of White Hills in Bendigo, pleaded guilty in Horsham Magistrate's Court on Wednesday to three counts of burglary and one count each of criminal damage, theft, wilful trespass and having breached a community corrections order.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen convicted and jailed Lansdell for 10 months, wholly suspended for 12 months.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Michael Patterson told the court that Lansdell's victims were in the Jeparit area.
The damage bill included Jeparit Primary School, $3535; Jeparit Football Club, $2175; and Jeparit Agricultural and Pastoral Society, $6992.
Mr Vandersteen said Lansdell had made a $12,702 impact on the Jeparit community.
He noted Lansdell's drug issues and warned him not to take cannabis after work, where he used heavy machinery.
"Matthew, it's about sending a message to the community," Mr Vandersteen said.
"If your workplace found out you were drug-taking, you would be sacked and someone could be killed.
"You have a lot of responsibility.
"Cannabis seems to be written off by a lot of people who use it.
"It causes long-term health issues and brain issues; drug-taking will make things worse.
"You don't think clearly when you take drugs or alcohol.
"Your three burglaries had a large impact on the school, football club and social hall.
"Little children go to the school and it impacts on them.
"It was 26 or 28 glass windows which you smashed.
"You have been given an opportunity.
"The police request for your DNA is appropriate, given your priors and the seriousness of the offences.
"Grow up and learn to be honest with people."
Mr Vandersteen also extended Lansdell's corrections order to 18 months, fined him $500 and ordered him to pay $12,702 compensation and undergo a forensic procedure to provide his DNA to police.
He said if Lansdell had pleaded not guilty, he would have sentenced him to time in a youth training centre.