Breakwater man Danny Russell caught stealing alcohol

A Breakwater man stole alcohol from bottle shops across Geelong to fund his drug habit, a court was told.

Danny Russell faced court for a number of alcohol thefts across Geelong. Picture: Eyewatch Geelong/Facebook.

A known drug user went on a costly crime spree in bottle shops across Geelong to fund his illegal habit.

Breakwater man Danny Russell, 37, was caught stealing handbags along Malop St in the Geelong CBD earlier this month and was eventually found by police who tracked him to North Geelong.

When he was arrested behind parklands around Coxon Pde, officers discovered he was wanted for a number of alcohol thefts.

Russell appeared at the Geelong Magistrates Court from a remand centre on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to the thefts.

The court heard Russell stole over $1000 worth of alcohol from BWS, Dan Murphy’s and Liquorland stores in Newcomb, Corio and Geelong West between February and November last year.

The court heard he is known to police for drug use.

Russell’s defence lawyer, Shane Balkin, said his client made “full admissions” when he was caught by police this month.

“We all pay as members of the public through theft from shops, but essentially what’s taking place here … is without any sophistication.

“Essentially what he’s doing here is hurting himself,” Mr Balkin said.

The court was told Russell has “plenty” of criminal priors and Mr Balkin said he has “put himself in a situation where he’s not just looking into going into custody, he is placed in custody”.

Russell was remanded to the Metropolitan Remand Centre for these matters since his arrest last week.

“It’s sad it got to this stage,” Mr Balkin said.

The court heard Russell has turned to alcohol to self-medicate and consumed some of the alcohol that he did not sell on for money.

“He seems to use that as a way of coping with life,” Mr Balkin said.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie ordered that Russell be assessed for a community corrections order.

Russell will return to court late next week for sentencing.

Originally published as Breakwater man Danny Russell caught stealing alcohol