A 28-year-old man continued to re-offend despite his image being shared around Ballarat as part of a "most wanted" Crimestoppers campaign, a court has heard.
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Nicholas Lee appeared before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to 25 charges, including five counts each of burglary and theft, and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle.
The court heard Lee was arrested on October 21 after being chased by the owner of a Clunes property which Lee had broken into.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent said Lee fled the Maryborough-Ballarat Road property in a stolen ute after being disturbed mid-burglary by the home owner, with the home owner then following Lee.
The court heard at one stage Lee pulled over and reversed into the man's car, before taking off once again.
Lee's car then became stuck in a ravine where he got out, pulled out a screwdriver and threatened the victim to "f*** off", before fleeing on foot.
Another local resident later saw Lee lying under a trailer in his shed and attempted to lock him inside until police arrived, but Lee kicked the shed's wall down and fled again.
Lee was followed by the resident who relayed information to police who arrested him 2.8km from where he left his car.
A number of stolen items, including tools valued at more than $7000, were found in the stolen ute.
Earlier in the year Lee was also charged after police found a stolen trailer with motorbikes, tools and a billy cart attached to Lee's car.
Warrants were then issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on three occasions.
The court also heard Lee breached a community corrections order after completing only 5 of 200 community work hours.
His lawyer, David Taminika, told the court his client's offending originally began after the death of two close friends in 2007/8.
But he said Lee eventually turned to drugs, which was the essential part of the more recent offending.
"(Drugs) alleviated the emotional burden he had", Mr Taminika said.
Mr Taminika told the court Lee then became paranoid, which escalated his drug use, after seeing his image printed in The Courier in September as part of a Crimestoppers campaign.
He concluded by saying Lee's time on remand had been a "circuit breaker" for his client, who had utilised the time to deal with his drug issues.
In sentencing magistrate William White said there was no other option than prison.
On all matters Lee was sentenced to 21 months' jail with a non parole period of 14 months. He has already served 61 days.
