A Portland man accused of stealing and torching a hire car before dumping it in a limestone quarry has been granted bail.
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Marcus Edwards, 29, of Silvester Street, appeared this week in Warrnambool Magistrates Court where he made a successful bail application.
The man was released from custody with strict conditions, including he undergo random drug testing, take part in the Court Integrated Services Program and not leave the house between 10pm and 6am.
The court heard Edwards attended Avis Car Rental in Portland early last month with a woman, who cannot be named.
He allegedly asked the woman to rent a 2019 Suzuki sedan in her name because he had a disqualified Learner's permit.
The woman agreed and paid for the rental car with a credit card belonging to another woman without her permission.
The court heard the woman left in the Suzuki and Mr Edwards followed behind in her personal vehicle.
The transaction was recorded on CCTV.
The pair attended at a Wellington Road address shortly after and Mr Edwards took the keys to the Suzuki and left.
He then failed to return the car.
The court heard the woman contacted him on numerous occasions and asked to return the car.
He allegedly told he would return it "when he was finished" and urged her not to contact the police.
Avis Car Rental reported the vehicle stolen on June 19.
A tracking device attached to the car revealed its last known location was in bush area near Bridgewater Lakes Road.
Police attended the scene and located the vehicle registration plate brackets, as well as white panels believed to belong to the stolen car.
On June 28, police patrolling Cape-Nelson Road allegedly found the vehicle burnt out and dumped in a limestone quarry.
Bottles of vodka Cruisers were located at both crime scenes and have been sent off for analysis, the court heard.
Mr Edwards was arrested on July 19 and found in possession of a small quantity of ice.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said while there were risks of the accused re-offending whilst on bail, those risks could be mitigated.
Mr Edwards will appear in court again on February 22.
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