The young male, who is facing more than 100 charges including 30 traffic-related charges, conduct endangering life and theft of a motor vehicle, appeared in a children’s court on Tuesday for a bail application.

Opposing bail, a police informant told the court the teenager allegedly committed the series of offences to fuel a “severe” drug habit.

The police informant said on June 24 the accused and a co-accused followed a 92-year-old woman who was walking her dog in Victoria Park before grabbing her in a bear hug and taking her car keys.

He said the victim’s car was later found burnt out in the Canadian State Forest.

The police informant said the pair monitored police movements using a scanner on a mobile phone and continued to commit further offences despite police knowing their identities.

Two weeks after the pair stole and dumped the elderly woman’s $24,000 car, they allegedly stole two luxury vehicles, each valued at $90,000, and lead police on numerous high speed chases around Ballarat.

The police informant said the accused had consumed a “cocktail” of ice on the day of the offending.

He said the accused was allegedly seen overtaking cars on the wrong side of Sutton Street at speeds estimated between 80 and 100km/h before colliding with a vehicle and fleeing the scene.

The court heard a 70-year-old woman sustained a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, spinal fractures and dislocated shoulder as a result of the collision.

The police informant told the court the accused used the drug ice on a daily basis and feared if released on bail he would commit further offences to fuel the drug habit.

Having spent the last 55 days in custody, defence lawyer Daniel McGlone said his client presented as a person who understood the circumstances he got himself in and had a “sense of a future”.

Mr McGlone said the young male’s offending came down to a combination of methamphetamine and an acquaintance with the co-accused.

“It’s not like we’re dealing with a complete wildcard,” he said.

“He has demonstrated a genuine desire to engage.”

Magistrate Cynthia Toose said while she acknowledged the accused’s age and family support, she was “very concerned” of the risk of re-offending.

“What could the court possible say to a family if these events occur again?” she said.

“I find it difficult to accept what conditions to put in place, that I feel comfortable he wouldn’t re-offend.

“I think the risk to the community is too great.”

The accused will reappear in court later this month.