Bevan Barden, 42, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to deception-related offences and breaching a community corrections order. 

Lawyer Sara Kingston said her client had no role in taking the credit card but at the time of the offending was fully aware it had been stolen.

She said Barden had a history of homelessness and had finally found a potential roof over his head when the police arrived, leading him to flee in fear.

She said Barden had a significant criminal history but the majority of the offending occurred during 2016 and he had since been jailed and placed on a community corrections order. 

That order was still in place at the time of the new offending. 

Magistrate Franz Holzer said the offending was opportunistic and stupid. 

Barden was placed on a 12-month community corrections order with conditions he do 40 hours of unpaid community service.

On June 16, 2018, Barden was given two stolen credit cards from a wallet dropped at a service station in Camperdown’s Manifold Street. 

At 10am he used one of the cards to purchase a packet of cigarettes from Ritchies IGA Camperdown using payWave. 

About an hour later he attended a service station in Colac and attempted to use the same card to purchase a drink and three hamburgers. 

The card declined and he used the second card instead. 

Police attended a Mcalpine Court property on October 30 to speak to Barden, who fled the property, scaling a number of fences and running through open paddocks. 

Police eventually caught up with him and he was arrested. The court heard Barden’s step-daughter witnessed his attempted escape. 

“(You are) hardly a good role model,” Mr Holzer said. 

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.