A Terang teenager who broke into several homes and stole and dumped vehicles in a night-long crime spree has avoided jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dylan Bausch, 19, of Swanston Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, theft, attempted theft and theft from a motor vehicle.
Magistrate Franz Holzer said the offending was “pretty ugly” and an immediate term of imprisonment was not unreasonable.
But lawyer Ian Pugh said Bausch showed good rehabilitation prospects after engaging well with the Court Integrated Services Program while on bail.
“The community has every right to be outraged by my client’s behaviour and some Terang residents have referred their outrage to me,” he said.
“My client has taken what may be baby steps towards rehabilitation, but his prospects are still good.”
Mr Holzer said Bausch’s engagement with CISP was positive and that the offending was “largely grouped in a very confined space of time”.
Bausch was placed on a two-year community corrections order with conditions he do 250 hours of unpaid community work and drug and mental health treatment.
Between November 2 and November 3, Bausch stole an unlocked white Holden Rodeo from a property in Panmure’s Hovards Road before dumping it on Laang-Garvoc Road in Laang.
He stole a specialised hiking backpack, a Microsoft tablet and two sets of car keys from properties in Terang’s Tobin Street, Estcourt Street, Bolivar Street and Princes Highway.
At 4.30am, he attempted to steal a white Holden ute but the engine wouldn’t start. He located a set of keys for a blue Statesman, which was stolen and later dumped on Panmure’s Old Township Road. Then at 5.30am, Bausch stole a black Ford Ranger ute.
It was found extensively damaged and dumped on top of a pile of rubbish at the Warrnambool cemetery about 7am.
Three offenders were seen walking away from the vehicle and Bausch was arrested after a foot chase. He threw two sets of car keys on the ground and was found in possession of a cattle prod. The co-accuseds were never identified.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.