Christopher Jones, of Malmsbury Juvenile Justice Centre, appeared in custody in Ballarat Magistrate's Court pleading guilty to two charges of escaping from a youth training centre, driving whilst disqualified, theft of a motor vehicle and theft.

The court heard the charges related to incidents between March 13 and June 26 this year when Jones was detained at Safeway supermarket in Eastwood St, Ballarat.

Prosecutor Senior Constable John Ashton said that on June 20 this year Jones and a co-offender convinced a staff member at the youth training centre to play an arm wrestling game with them, during which time Jones unclipped a key from the employee's belt.

"The defendant has then left through the door which lead to the gate which would eventually lead to freedom," he said.

The incident saw all locks at the centre changed at a cost of $25,000.

Sen Const Ashton said Jones fled to Kyneton where he stole a car, drove it to Melbourne and dumped it in Bourke St.

He was caught in Ballarat on June 26, he said. The keys to the centre have not been recovered.

The court heard that before the incident Jones had twice escaped from the youth training centre.

Defence counsel Julia Love said her client first escaped because he heard his girlfriend had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

"The reasons for his subsequent escapes are similar," she said.

"He wanted to get back to Melbourne and help care for her."

Magistrate Terry Wilson said Jones was "on a journey that is very much a dead end".

He convicted and sentenced Jones to four month's prisonand ordered he pay $1541 compensation. He also disqualified him from obtaining a licence for 12 months.