Described by a magistrate as a "deranged person seeking to be a good Samaritan," a man charged with trying to enter a house was given a community corrections order after spending 44 days in custody.
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The Ballarat Magistrates' Court was told on Tuesday Stuart Bellchambers, 38, was walking home to his Ballarat East home while drug affected last month.
Police alleged he walked to a neighbours house and attempted to kick open the front door, before forcing his way through a garage and attempting to remove flywire screens on windows.
He opened a bathroom window and had a leg through when an occupant of the house asked what he was doing.
"Is everyone alright in there?" Bellchambers replied.
He was arrested, and was unable to be interviewed by police as he was too drug-affected.
They matched his shoes to footprints on the door.
He later told police he thought he heard a domestic argument inside the house.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary.
Defence lawyer Scott Belcher said Bellchambers was a shearer in Ararat, who had experienced problems with methamphetamine previously.
"He's got to make the decision, go back to the grey bar motel or get back to the shearing sheds and work," he said.
Speaking from the dock, Bellchambers said there was some ice use in the industry, describing it as "like putting blinkers on the racehorse" while working.
Sentencing Bellchambers to a 12 month CCO with the 44 days served, Magistrate Gregory Robinson said he required regular drug testing as a condition.
"I want to hang it over him," he said.