A PARADISE man has faced court on a string of theft charges after a search warrant at his property found several vehicles.
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Damien Townley, 50, pleaded guilty to 53 charges relating to thefts across a period from December 2020 to April 2021.
The Ararat Magistrates' Court was told the first incident occurred on December 27, 2020, when police visited Townley's residence and observed a black Toyota Hilux with stolen number plates.
Later that day Townley, alongside his de facto partner, were intercepted on Campbell Street in a white Holden Captiva.
Townley was arrested and taken to Ararat police station, where he made partial admissions in an interview.
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On December 27, a search warrant was executed at Townley's residence, where police seized the stolen Toyota Hilux, two number plates, a caravan, two trailers, a red Sportsman quad bike, and three bags of cannabis seeds. All of the items were listed as stolen.
Police also found a locked toolbox with a damaged lock, and believe a nearby flathead screwdriver was used to try to pry the toolbox open.
The court was told of several other incidents in which Townley filled his car with fuel and refused to pay, occurring in Ararat, St Arnaud and Bacchus Marsh. The fuel thefts occurred between January and March 2021.
In each incident, Townley was driving the white Holden Captiva, with cancelled number plates belonging to different cars.
At 2am on April 25, 2021, the Captiva bearing stolen number plates was located by police at a motel in Cranbourne.
Police inquired about the stolen vehicle and arrested Townley, who was staying with a woman at the motel, at the scene.
Towley's defence counsel agreed with the prosecution's summaries.
The hearing was adjourned, with exact restitution amounts for the stolen goods yet to be agreed upon.
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