A man who caught a taxi to a Narrawong home before breaking in and stealing a motorbike and shotgun has been jailed for eight months.
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Darren Holmes, 48, of Princes Highway, Tyrendarra, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Tuesday to possessing a controlled weapon, burglary, theft and making threats to kill.
He was sentenced to eight months in jail with 27 days already served in custody on remand.
Magistrate Jon Klestadt said a term of imprisonment was the only suitable penalty for Holmes' offending.
He said Holmes' reliance on alcohol was an aggravating factor, especially in terms of possessing a firearm without a licence.
The court heard Holmes' offending dated back to 2007 when he was caught with a 15-centimetre knife at Camperdown's Commercial Hotel.
He told police he had purchased the knife that day and intended to use it for farming.
Then on March 12, 2009, Holmes was drinking at the Gordon Hotel in Portland's Bentinck Street.
He called a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the victim's home in Narrawong.
Holmes told the taxi driver he had argued with the victim about money he owed him for food, cigarettes and alcohol.
He told the driver he would hurt the victim in order to settle the dispute.
Holmes was transported to the victim's home and dropped at the front door.
The victim returned home that evening to find his firearms had been placed on his bed.
A double-barrel shotgun and ammunition were stolen as well as a motorcycle valued about $2000.
The victim told police he felt scared as he believed he was going to be shot.
On March 14 Holmes rang the victim and told him he would kill him if he returned home.
The loaded shotgun was later found returned to the shed of the victim's property.
Then on February 18 this year Holmes had a verbal argument with his parents at their home.
He threatened to slit their throats. Police attended the property at 12.40pm and Holmes locked himself inside.
He surrendered after an hour and was subsequently arrested.
Lawyer Jack Rabl said the offending was dated but Holmes had taken responsibility and the stolen property had been returned to its owner.
He said Holmes suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2000 and was heavily reliant on alcohol.
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