A Warrnambool man who broke into a café and then reported himself to police has avoided a conviction.
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The 20-year-old pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Tuesday to burglary, possessing a controlled weapon and driving offences.
The court heard that on December 22, 2019, the offender attended Warrnambool's Main Beach Kiosk at 12.40am, smashed an eastern-side window and climbed through, cutting his hand.
He used his phone torch to search around the café, looking at items that could be stolen but left empty handed about 15 minutes later.
The man forced his way out of a locked door and immediately rang the police, stating a man had broken into the business.
Police attended the scene and located the man, who matched the description he gave of the burglar, and had a cut hand wrapped in a kitchen towel and cloth.
He was found in possession of a pairing knife.
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The court heard CCTV footage showed the man breaking into the café.
A couple of days later he was driving his Nissan Pulsar east on the Princes Highway about 3am, the court heard.
He approached a slight right-hand bend and left the road, rolling down an embankment and causing extensive damage to the car.
Police arrived at 3.40am and the man smelt strongly of liquor.
His probationary licence was suspended after a recent drink driving offence.
The man was conveyed to Warrnambool Hospital where a blood sample taken at 4.55am recorded a blood alcohol content of .171.
He told police he'd consumed 12 Jim Beam cans before driving and that he intentionally took his hands off the wheel of the car.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the offending was "bizarre" but he accepted the man was struggling with his mental health at the time and was self-medicating with alcohol.
The man was placed on a good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $1041 restitution to the Main Beach Kiosk.
A conviction was not recorded.
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