James Bully appears at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court admitting to theft and possession of illicit drugs

A Shepparton man busted with drugs in his socks got in a barney with a police officer after he was busted trying to delete evidence from his phone.

A man who demanded his phone be returned to him by police as part of his “rights” while in custody ended in a scuffle with an officer as he tried to delete evidence of his offending.

James Bully, 24, appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday pleading guilty to a charge of theft of a motor vehicle and admitted to possessing methamphetamine and taking cannabis.

The court heard Bully and his friend approached a vehicle in Cobram where Bully broke into the car and stole loose coins worth $50 on March 12, 2021.

CCTV footage captured Bully and the other offender wearing the same clothing when the theft took place.

Bully was caught and arrested and taken to the Cobram police station, where it was

discovered Bully he had methamphetamine hidden in a sock

While at the police station, Bully requested to have his confiscated phone back to call his father as it was part of his “rights”.

However, when the phone was returned, a detective at the station saw the 24-year-old attempt to delete texts, photos and evidence of the offending which he refused to give back to them

An attempt from the detectives to try and retrieve the mobile device from Bully resulted in one of the detective’s lanyards being broken by Bully.

The court also heard Bully denied being in the CCTV footage that captured the theft in Cobram.

James Bulley appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

He also told police he had “forgot all about” the methamphetamine hidden in his sock, and was “angry” about the situation.

On February 23 last year about 10.30am, Bully attended an address on Queens St in Cobram, the court heard.

Bully forced open a lock on the garage of vacant property and stole power tools worth $200 from a cardboard box, the court heard.

Wangaratta detectives went to the Queen St address on February 28 last year and discovered fingerprints left on a cardboard box, and a tea towel Bully used and left at the crime scene.

Upon being arrested, Bully was “cooperative” and “compliant” with police.

Bully expressed his apologies and was “upset” at what had occurred — and told police he struggled with substance abuse.

The court heard Bully was remorseful of his offendings and wanted to get on with his life.

Bully, an amputee, denied stealing the powertools from the Queens St property, but admitted his fingerprints would have been “everywhere” for items to steal, the court heard.

Bully’s lawyer told the court Bully was a “very likeable young man but certainly has feelings of hopelessness”.

“Life has really turned on its head since his amputation,” Bully’s lawyer said.

A court document said he wants to get a new leg and go to work and “get on with his life”.

Bully, who had his leg amputated two years ago due vasculitis and Buerger's disease, had been in a “depression stage”.

Bully requires physiotherapy to get an artificial leg, but told the court he had not been attending his physiotherapy appointments.

Magistrate David Faram said: “There’s something out there that is able to help you,”

He urged Bully to continue to engage with his NDIS support workers and reminded him again that people are ready to help him.

Bully was placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months without conviction.