A CRIMINAL with an extensive history has told a magistrate he doesn't want to die a drug addict.
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Gary Melbourne was on a crime spree for weeks before his arrest by Wodonga police on Sunday.
During his extensive offending, the 34-year-old stole cars, broke into a church on Melrose Drive and took $10,000 in goods, sold vehicles he had been lent, used ice he had stolen from people and torched a vehicle.
In one of the most concerning thefts, Melbourne used his vehicle to steal a trailer with $20,000 in tools from Phillips Street on March 13 or 14.
He teamed up with another crook to sell the tools or swap them for ice.
The owner has been unable to run their business since the theft, with $10,000 of tools and the trailer still missing.
Melbourne also targeted the Wodonga District Baptist Church last Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, taking iPads, laptops, cash, a safe, worth a total of $10,000.
He was involved in an arson attack on a stolen Holden Commodore near the Bandiana Link on March 7.
Melbourne stole a $8000 Kawasaki motorbike nine days later, and was linked to alcohol thefts, bicycle thefts and a string of other offences.
He freely admitted his crimes to police in great detail, with the crimes fuelling his ice addiction.
The Wodonga Magistrates Court heard the 34-year-old had recently found out his cancer had returned after being in remission, but he has refused to be treated.
"I don't want to die an active using drug addict," Melbourne told magistrate Fran Medina, who heard he had been using since age 13.
"I'd rather die clean."
The father-of-seven was jailed for 18 months with a 12-month minimum.
He was also disqualified from driving for six months.
