A PROMISING young Warrnambool footballer who suffered a brain bleed has been told it is time to face his demons and get treatment.
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Jayden Bourke, 19, of Raglan Parade, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week to recklessly causing injury.
He was convicted and placed on a 12-month community corrections order with the condition he undertake treatment and rehabilitation for drug use. He has to return to court on September 1 for judicial monitoring.
Bourke told the court he had memory loss and had been in trouble with police after suffering a knock to the head playing football which led to him being taken to a Melbourne hospital.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said that when Bourke used drugs he got angry and lost the plot.
He said it was time Bourke did something about his issues, the head injury was not a death sentence and if he addressed his problems there may be no long-term impact.
Bourke said he feared what impact the injury could have on the rest of his life.
In August last year Bourke was fined $2000 in court after pleading guilty to a large number of driving offences when he said he was driving around for a drug dealer.
He had those fines converted to community work but has not done any work and now risks going to jail.
The most recent offending relates to relationship issues on January 6 when Bourke’s girlfriend was communicating with another man on Facebook.
Bourke grabbed her arms and around the throat and threw thongs at her which hit her head. He then trashed his own unit and prevented the woman leaving.
He threatened to burn down her parents’ home and followed her up the road, jumping in front of a car.