A MAN caught by Warrnambool police after avoiding court for six years has been fined $750.
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Matthew Fisher, 27, now of Daltons Road, Warrnambool, was arrested on Wednesday night after police attended at his home following reports of a family-related incident.
Officers discovered warrants had previously been issued for Mr Fisher during the course of their investigations.
He was arrested, remanded in custody and appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday.
Mr Fisher pleaded guilty to theft, obtaining property by deception and three counts of failing to answer bail.
Police alleged that in Fitzroy during mid 2008 Mr Fisher stole 17 DVDs, Playstation games and a mobile phone he pawned for $61.
Later he took 14 DVDs, Playstation games and a camera he swapped for $47. The actual value of the goods was $1300.
Mr Fisher told police when he was arrested he was hungry, in a bad way and bored when he committed the offences.
He then failed to appear in court three times despite being arrested and bailed in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Defence counsel Belinda Northey said her client had been unemployed for a long time and missed his court dates after moving around country Victoria.
She said he was still looking for work, paying child maintenance and was only 21 at the time of the offending.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said the charges could have been finalised long ago if Fisher had attended court.
He was not convicted and fined $750 with $113.90 court costs.