No more jail for Framlingham man who stole $40k cash, war medals from Warrnambool property

Jason Clarke, 45, of Warrumyea Road, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to more than 30 charges.

The charges related to a string of burglaries and thefts in Warrnambool last year, including an aggravated burglary where a 13-year-old girl was present.

Clarke was jailed for the 432 days he served in custody on remand.

A police prosecutor told the court he expected a longer sentence considering Clarke had an extensive criminal history involving 20 years of burglary and theft-related priors.

He said the man stole large quantities of cash and went on an "outrageous spending spree on a vast amount of drugs".

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said Clarke was entitled to a reduced sentence because he pleaded guilty to the charges, meaning the 13-year-old victim would not give evidence in court. He said if not for Clarke's guilty plea, he would have been sentenced to two years and six months' jail with a non-parole period.

Clarke's month-long crime spree commenced in late February last year and ended when he was arrested at a hotel in Geelong.

The court heard he broke into several Warrnambool homes and stole a shotgun belt with cartridges, credit cards, tools, electronics and a number of bikes and vehicles worth more than $60,000.

He broke into a Ross Street property where a 13-year-old girl was home alone, and on another occasion he broke into a Ryot Street garage and struck a male victim to the head with a soft drink bottle.

He also burgled a 62-year-old man's home in Selby Road, stealing $45,559 cash and two World War II medals belonging to the victim's deceased uncle, which were never recovered.

Clarke used some of the stolen cash to pay for hotel rooms in Warrnambool and Geelong.

He was arrested on March 29 after a search warrant at his hotel room uncovered large quantities of cash, as well as methamphetamine, cannabis and heroin.

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