AN ICE dealer has been caught inside a stranger's home in Wodonga after breaking in and staying overnight.
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Joel Dobbie, 29, had been selling the drug in the area last week in a bid to raise money for an upcoming family court matter.
He was sentenced to four months in jail in the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges including possessing and using ice, burglary, theft and possessing a controlled weapon.
The Melton garbage truck worker travelled to Wodonga on Thursday with three others and drove around making drug sales.
He sold "eight balls" of the drug - about 3.5 grams each - for $1000.
Dobbie broke into a home in Lachlan Court through a bedroom window and stayed with the three co-accused overnight.
![Joel Dobbie has been jailed for four months Joel Dobbie has been jailed for four months](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/u2TKvX7hYXGMrKgrD4ZiFN/b0bc9acb-be19-49b6-89b8-3f2a62da7739.jpg/r0_3_1200_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The occupant had been away in Sydney and the unwelcome guests were only noticed when the victim’s mother arrived to collect her mail.
Alcohol, a laptop and two knives had been taken and placed in Dobbie's car.
A police search of the Holden Commodore found the knives with scales, a tick sheet and drug bags.
A No Fear backpack inside the home had $2300 and 4.5 grams of ice, and a breath mint container in the living room had 1.5 grams of the drug.
Dobbie told police he had been in a relationship with the occupant of the house for six weeks after meeting her at Yarrawonga, but she said she did not know him.
His drug habit was detailed in court including the fact his mother had tried to find him a place in rehab, which would have cost $14,000.
Defence lawyer Mario Vaccaro had called for a community corrections order instead of jail time.
But magistrate Ian Watkins questioned whether that punishment was suitable.
“He's broken into someone’s house for a period of time,” he said.
Dobbie held his head in his hands and looked at the floor at times during the hearing.
Mr Watkins sentenced him to four months in jail and he must undertake a community corrections order when he is released.