A PORTLAND man allegedly re-offended hours after he had been bailed for breaking into a pharmacy, a court has heard.
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Liam Carroll, 23, of Richardson Street, represented himself in a bail application in Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard Mr Carroll forced open the front door of the Guardian Pharmacy in Percy Street, Portland at 6am on Thursday.
Senior Constable Sean Elliott, of Portland police, said Mr Carroll was armed with a hammer and stole prescription medication.
At 10.25am police went to an address in Portland of known drug users and located Mr Carroll who appeared to be drug affected.
When interviewed by Portland criminal investigation unit, Mr Carroll stated he was sick and needed medication. He was charged with burglary and drug offences and was bailed about midday on Thursday.
Senior Constable Elliott said it was the fourth time Mr Carroll had broken into the chemist in the last four years.
He said Mr Carroll said he couldn’t help himself and would do it again.
Later on Thursday Mr Carroll went to the Portland YMCA where he was a member.
It was alleged he stole wallets and cash from the change rooms.
Police found Mr Carroll at the same Portland address known to be used by drug users. He was later charged with three counts of theft and using amphetamines.
Mr Carroll’s mother told the court her son had been in Portland for seven to eight weeks and had the support of his family.
“I’d like to take him home today on bail,” she said.
Mr Carroll’s mother said it wasn’t an excuse but her son had been on a very high dose of methadone and was suffering from the side effects of methadone withdrawal.
Mr Carroll addressed magistrate Jonathan Klestadt and said the methadone reduction had triggered his behaviour and prior to now he had been doing exceptionally well.
“I haven’t done any offending before this because my offending is so stupid I would have gotten caught,” he said.
Mr Klestadt said the only condition on which he was granting bail was that he live with his mother and not leave the address unless accompanied by a family member.
He said history showed that Mr Carroll’s was one of the worst cases of abhorrent behaviour while drug affected.
He said rehabilitation of drug addiction was often one step forward and two steps back.
Mr Carroll was bailed to appear at Portland Magistrates Court on August 12