A man who allegedly broke into his ex-partner's home, stole $3, and made a lewd video of himself masturbating has been sent to hospital for mental health treatment.
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Jan Moerkerke, 29, was armed with a piece of timber, duct tape, a skipping rope and a ''safe sex pack'' when he broke into the O'Connor home at the weekend.
He removed his clothing and filmed himself in the main bedroom, a court heard.
Moerkerke allegedly left the video camera on the windowsill with a note saying he had stolen $3 and instructions to press ''play'' on the camera.
Moerkerke's former girlfriend no longer lives in the house and the video camera was discovered by her tenant, who at first believed it was a practical joke.
But a police informant told the ACT Magistrates Court that the horrified woman soon realised her error when she watched the video and became afraid for her safety, running out of the house to call triple-0.
The court heard an off-duty police officer and Moerkerke's former girlfriend helped investigators identify the man in the video and he was arrested soon afterwards.
Yesterday Moerkerke, of Phillip, was charged with burglary and theft. The court heard he had mental health issues.
Moerkerke, who represented himself, told the court that all would be revealed soon.
He asked to be placed under the care of Corrective Services rather than ACT Mental Health, saying there was a woodworking shop at the jail and he wanted to make ''matchstick stuff''.
Moerkerke also urged Magistrate Maria Doogan to check out the internet for more court updates.
Ms Doogan told Moerkerke he could be unwell and needed a mental health assessment.
She ordered him to be sent to the mental health unit at Canberra Hospital in police custody.