Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell tells judge he plans to enter guilty plea to theft and driving offences

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has given an update on how he’s doing from inside prison as he indicated he will plead guilty after being charged with some driving and theft offences.

Wayward former AFL umpire Troy Pannell will plead guilty to theft and driving offences next week.

The crestfallen Mr Pannell appeared via video link at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning from Fulham Prison in Sale where he is in custody.

The court heard Mr Pannell was remanded on June 14.

A Victoria Legal Aid lawyer was urgently called in by Magistrate Timothy Hoare to appear for the unrepresented Mr Pannell, who was dressed in green prison garb and sporting a beard.

The court heard his previous lawyer had ceased to act for him six days ago.

Magistrate Hoare asked Mr Pannell questions about his conditions in prison and his mental health.

“I’m just in a cell in here,” Mr Pannell said.

“Not a psych facility. I’ve seen a nurse every couple of days.”

Mr Pannell crashed a van on the Daylesford and Malmsbury Rd, near Wheatsheaf in western Victoria, on June 8 after police had earlier attempted to arrest him.

The 48-year-old ran off the road and hit a tree after he had failed to stop on the instructions of police who were attempting to intercept him following an arrest warrant being issued for contempt of court.

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell calls for the video review during the round seven AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Carlton Blues at Etihad Stadium on May 14, 2012 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty

Later, on June 15, Mr Pannell was arrested by police and charged with theft and driving offences following his treatment at The Alfred hospital.

In a previous court hearing his lawyer said Mr Pannell had also been in psychiatric care.

The court heard Mr Pannell had agreed to plead guilty on Wednesday to charges relating to the theft of a Hyundai Tucson valued at $45,000, a $2000 mobile phone and a laptop worth at $1500.

He also will plead guilty to charges of failing to stop on police direction.

“I just want the plea done,” Mr Pannell said.

Troy Pannell in action in his final game during the 2018 AFL round 23 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 25, 2018. Picture: Getty

Mr Pannell’s hearing for a plea of guilty was held over until July 23.

The court heard the former umpire has no prior convictions and it was his first time in custody.

Mr Pannell will have served his custodial sentence with a plea of guilty.

Magistrate Hoare asked Mr Pannell at the end of the hearing if he had any thoughts of self harm.

Mr Pannell said: “No sir”.

Mr Pannell is separately embroiled in an $8.7 million fraud saga with police issuing warrants after he failed to appear in court on previous occasions.

Mr Pannell officiated more than 200 games in a successful 13-year umpiring career spanning 2005 to 2018.

Controversially, he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs in a game against Adelaide, which received one, in 2016.