A Kirkstall man has been jailed for stealing a woman's much-loved dog.
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Kevin Knowles, 47, of Atkinson Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to theft, making threats to inflict serious injury and bail offences.
He was jailed for 45 days with 26 days already served in custody on remand.
Magistrate John Lesser urged Knowles to seek professional help in the future.
"If you can get supports around you for your mental health and drug and alcohol issues, then it will stand you in good stead going forward," he said.
On June 4, Knowles attended a property in Warrnambool's Breton Street about 4.20pm and stole the victim's dog, the court heard.
The pair were known to each other.
Police attended the property and spoke to the victim who said: "If he goes past and sees yous (sic.) here, Mum's gonna cop it. I'm dead anyway. I've been dead for months."
Police allege Knowles understood the victim's emotional attachment to her dog and that he took it in order to "get back at her".
The dog was named after the victim's deceased son.
Knowles was arrested on June 5 at an address in Cobden.
The dog was located at the address and subsequently returned to the victim.
At the time of the offending, Knowles was on bail for making a threat to inflict serious injury.
That charge related to an incident on August 21 last year when Knowles attended Cut Price Auto Parts and Services to pick up his vehicle which had undergone a service.
A staff member told Knowles he owed the business $962, plus an extra $200 storage fee due to the vehicle not being collected for over a month.
Knowles became aggressive and threatened to shoot the victim. He was arrested at the front of the shop and found in possession of a knife.
Knowles is expected to be released from custody in late July.
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