Drug driving habit ends
’Shocking’ record puts man in jail
A TALENTED rugby player has been jailed over a spate of crimes around Geelong.
Nathan Theobald, 37, of Geelong West, was sentenced yesterday to a five-month prison term after pleading guilty to charges dating back to 2017.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard Theobald’s offending was often influenced by drugs.
In one incident last month, Theobald was found slumped over the steering wheel of a car that did not belong to him.
The vehicle’s owner discovered Theobald in the car, which was parked in Geelong West, and ran off to call police.
When officers arrived on the scene, Theobald refused to exit the car and was ultimately pepper sprayed.
He was later found with a snaplock bag, containing 16 Xanax tablets, that was hidden between his buttocks.
Theobald has been in custody since the arrest on May 15.
The court heard Theobald was on bail at the time for the attempted theft of a car in Bell Post Hill, which occurred on January 10 this year.
The former small business owner was arrested at the scene as he tried to steal the VE Commodore, which he claimed had belonged to him.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Jeremy Allen said Theobald was also responsible for a range of driving offences between December 2017 and March this year.
They included multiple counts of failing an oral fluid test and driving while unlicensed.
Theobald also pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of assaulting an emergency worker on duty and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
Defence lawyer Thomas Edwards said his client had been a talented rugby player who was a member of a Victorian representative squad for several years.
He said Theobald had struggled with depression and other mental health issues, though was remorseful for the offending.
The court heard Theobald’s latest stint on remand had been spent in solitary confinement.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan said Theobald had a “shocking” driving record as he disqualified him from driving for 15 months.
Theobald was also fined $750. He has already served 103 days in custody.