An Ararat man will spend the next six months behind bars after sending more than 400 text messages to a protected person in just 11 days.
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Karl Borrough appeared before the Ararat Magistrates' Court on Friday on six charges including persistently breaching an intervention order.
Appearing via video link from the Melbourne Remand Centre, Borrough pleaded guilty to all charges in a case that left magistrate Simon Zebrowski flabbergasted.
On March 6, Borrough attended the Ararat Magistrates' Court where he was issued with a full intervention order by Mr Zebrowski, preventing him from having any contact with the victim.
On May 10, Borrough attended the victim's home at about 9am and confronted them about their movements on the previous day.
Borrough asked why the victim did not respond to any of his texts, which were a direct breach of the intervention order.
He left a short time later, only to return at 6.30pm the same day, again berating the victim about their movements.
Borrough spent an hour at the victim's house while he interrogated them before leaving the premises in his car.
As he left, Borrough ripped up the victim's front lawn.
Police attended the victim's home later that night.
You have breached the order in brazen fashion
- Magistrate Simon Zebrowski
Detective examined the victim's phone and saw 433 texts from Borrough sent between May 1 and 11, including 100 sent on May 11.
On May 17, police intercepted Borrough as he drove along the Western Hwy.
In an interview with police, Borrough admitted to all of the offences and he was placed under arrest with no bail.
In separate incidents, Borrough was recorded twice stealing petrol in just nine days, firstly on April 18 in Wendouree where he took $28.60 of fuel.
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Police received a copy of the CCTV footage and the officers identified Borrough.
On April 27, Borrough repeated his actions at an Ararat service station, this time stealing $61.29 worth of petrol.
Again, police were able to identify Borrough via the CCTV footage.
Appearing before the court in remand, Borrough spent 45 days in custody before Friday's hearing.
Mr Zebrowski said it was frustrating to see Borrough before him so quickly after issuing the intervention order three months earlier.
"This is a grievous breach of the order," Mr Zebrowski said.
"You knew the consequences would be dire if you appeared before the court again."
Mr Zebrowski said Borrough was imprisoned for 90 days for breaching an intervention order in 2019 and was only released in March this year.
"I have to send a message to everyone in the Wimmera; these orders are useless if I don't enforce them," Mr Zebrowski said.
"You have breached the order in brazen fashion ... with psychological abuse of the victim."
Mr Zebrowski imprisoned Borrough for six months, taking into account his time already spent in custody.
The magistrate also placed Borrough on an 18 month community corrections order.
"If you come before me for the same charges, you will only be imprisoned for longer," Mr Zebrowski said.
"The length of time you spend in jail is up to you."
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