Timothy Cakebread, 22, was jailed for 30 months at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday with magistrate Patrick Southey telling the offender: “You’re a menace, you’re so dangerous”. 

During one police chase on October 15, a cornered Cakebread reversed into an unmarked police car, almost running over a police officer, before crashing into a picket fence outside a Sebastopol property, a court heard.

Detailing the extent of Cakebread’s offending, police prosecutor Senior Constable Michelle Kilburn told the court  that Cakebread drove down the wrong side of the road to avoid police, forcing road users to swerve out of the way during three separate pursuits. 

One witness told police: “I was in disbelief, I couldn’t understand why this car drove towards me. I thought we we’re going to die.”

Cakebread, a disqualified driver at the time, reached speeds of 110km/h in central Ballarat during a pursuit in October, and drove at 80km/h through two school zones just before 9am.

He pleaded guilty to 41 charges, including reckless conduct endangering life, evade police, dangerous driving while being pursued by police and a number of theft charges.

After a pursuit in June, Cakebread told police: “I don’t care. They (police) chased me, I didn’t give up until I got away. I knew they (police) had to give up.”

Cakebread also stole a number of vehicles and a diamond ring from Carrington Jewellers valued at $8500. 

Tim Fitzpatrick, for Cakebread, said his client had suffered from a disadvantaged upbringing, with his father currently incarcerated.

“He has lost all love and feeling for others because he’s never felt it himself,” he said.

In sentencing Cakebread to a non-parole period of 18 months, magistrate Southey said the man was lucky he had not killed anyone.

“It’s one of the most serious cases I’ve heard, ever,” he said.