Loading Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Rogers had broken into a city cafe the day before the November 9 Bourke Street attack and stolen $500 from a till and a basket. He is also accused of bike theft. Police had opposed bail, arguing there was an "unacceptable risk" of Rogers committing further offences. However, Magistrate Bob Kumar granted bail, saying the risk could be overcome with stringent conditions.

Speaking exclusively to The Age after leaving court late on Saturday afternoon, Rogers said: "I'm glad I've been given another chance and I'll give it my best shot. "It's nice to know that people do still think that I'm worthy of moving on in life and putting my old stuff behind." Rogers was dubbed Trolley Man after ramming a shopping cart at Hassan Khalif Shire Ali on November 9. Rogers said he believed he could stay out of trouble provided he complied with one of his bail conditions — to stay out of Melbourne's CBD. "I think [I can] so long as I stay out of the city," he said.

"I'm not gonna lie, it's gonna be a task. "Look, my goal is to pay people back and do the right thing and that's what I'm gonna do." Rogers is only allowed to be in the city for court appearances, legal appointments and the Court Integrated Services Program. He must comply with the requirements of the program, which include not taking drugs. Other bail conditions include residing at a Caroline Springs apartment that has been rented for him by the National Homeless Collective, reporting daily to Caroline Springs police and abiding by a 9pm-6am curfew. In the longer term, he hopes to stay with his younger brother and sister-in-law at their home in Wallan, after recently reconnecting.

"He's rapt, my little brother," Rogers said. "He was a bit emotional yesterday when he knew I was gonna get locked up. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "I knew as soon as they came knocking at the door. "Don't get me wrong, all crime's serious, but the amount of police that came I thought it was a bit worse than what it was.

"But at the end of the day, I'm glad to be out and give it a good crack at moving on." Rogers' lawyer Melinda Walker argued he had a unique opportunity to turn his life around due to money that had been raised for him. A crowdfunding campaign “Not all heroes wear capes” raised $145,000 for Rogers before being closed to donations on Saturday. National Homeless Collective's Donna Stolzenberg, who started the campaign, gave evidence in support of Rogers. Outside court, Ms Stolzenberg said she believed being bailed would prove more positive to Rogers than staying inside.

A crowfunding campaign has raised $145,000 for 'Trolley Man' Michael Rogers. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "It is obviously a very important chance for him," she said. "I think things have changed a lot considering the support systems that have now been put in place. "It's not just our organisation who are coming along to support him, so he has the backing of many people who are strangers to him but who obviously know who he is. "There are certain other programs that he's now able to access that he wasn't able to access before, and I think it's very important that no matter what's happened with somebody in their past that we continue to try and find different pathways to support them that suit them."

Rogers is due to reappear in court on November 27.