The 32-year-old targeted six local stores during five days in April, some on multiple occasions.
Ashley Hurd pleaded guilty at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to 23 counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail, nine counts of theft, 12 counts of criminal damage, two counts of possession of methamphetamine and one count of burglary.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lund told the court Hurd was charged and bailed in January after a Poplar Ave resident reported a man throwing a fish and chips sign into their front yard at 3am.
Sen Constable Lund said police located a “sweaty and erratic” Hurd lying under a tree in the front yard, and found a small zip-lock bag containing methamphetamine inside his wallet.
The court heard in April he stole a $1000 leaf blower from Shepparton Club, two pairs of Nike shoes from Rebel Sport and attempted to steal a $275 golf club from Drummond Golf, but a staff member chased him down and retrieved it.
Sen Constable Lund said Hurd caused about $2300 in damage to Colorbond fences and shopfronts in Mooroopna on the evening of April 21.
He also stole alcohol from three Shepparton liquor stores on five occasions, which Hurd’s solicitor Laurence Waugh said he exchanged for methamphetamine.
The offending occurred while Hurd was on a community corrections order imposed by the County Court in 2021.
Mr Waugh told the court Hurd was a productive member of society for many years until his long-term relationship ended in 2015 and he started using methamphetamine.
He said Hurd had been a team supervisor at an Aboriginal corporation but his drug addiction had “cost him everything”, including contact with his three children.
Mr Waugh said Hurd had two unsuccessful rehabilitation attempts in the past but had an opportunity to enter a residential program at The Cottage in September.
Hurd was convicted and sentenced to 139 days in jail, with 116 days reckoned as already served.
“It’s my expectation you will enter The Cottage on [September 7] ... to commence a significant period of rehabilitation,” Magistrate David Faram said.
“It seems to me you have a lot to offer yourself, your family and community, but clearly issues relating to drug abuse need to be addressed.”
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