It’s clean up or lock-up

Magistrate warns accused with drug and drink issues

A BELMONT man who threatened the manager of an outdoor retailer with a knife risks going to jail if he fails a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard Jake O’Brien, 22, stole two small axes, a machete and a flint on July 15 from Anaconda in Belmont.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Van- derpol told the court O’Brien set off the security alarm as he walked from the store.

“He produced a 15cm knife ... he held it towards the manager of Anaconda causing him to retreat,” Sen-Constable Vanderpol said.

He said the incident was one of five that attracted police attention between January and July this year.

In that period O’Brien was caught speeding and drinking-driving while riding his motorbike without a valid licence, and was arrested for stealing from a car.

Sen-Constable Vanderpol told the court O’Brien urinated on the floor of a police cell after he was arrested for stealing from the unlocked car on Sovereign Drive, Mt Duneed, on February 17.

The court heard O’Brien had been caught driving more than 30km/h over the limit on Separation St, North Geelong, on January 8. He had previously breached a community corrections order twice.

Lawyer for O’Brien, Stephanie Mawby, told the court her client went “off the rails” earlier this year.

“He concedes he was off the rails during this period.

“The problem for Jake is that he has an existing issue with cannabis and alcohol ... he is now clean,” Ms Mawby said.

Magistrate John Lesser, who part heard O’Brien’s matter, told him he risked jail time if he failed to comply with an Odyssey House rehabilitation program.

“To say that you’ve dug yourself into a bigger hole is to undersell matters. If you breach your bail or don’t apply yourself to this program — and I take the view the time you have served is not enough — you will go to jail,” Mr Lesser said.

In bailing O’Brien to enter the Odyssey House program, Mr Lesser told him he was not to drink alcohol, take drugs or drive for 24 months.

O’Brien will return to the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on December 12 for sentencing.