Darcy Lee Kroezen, 28, was sentenced to 22 months’ jail with a non-parole period of 15 months at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on March 13.

He pleaded guilty to a string of serious offences committed over the past two years, including reckless conduct endangering life, assault, theft and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

In May 2016, Kroezen violently assaulted his former girlfriend and her father after they went to his house to collect some items.

Kroezen, who contravened a family violence order and breached a community corrections order, caused multiple fractures to his girlfriends father’s face.

In September 2017, Kroezen ransacked his grandfather’s house before stealing his police medals and guns.

The next day, he was driving an unregistered car when he rammed a vehicle twice in Sutton Street, causing it to hit a traffic light.

In an appeal hearing at the County Court at Ballarat on Friday, defence barrister Amie Hancock urged the court to resentence her client to a community corrections order combined with a shorter jail term.

She said Kroezen believed the sentence imposed in the magistrates court was excessive and he had his girlfriend’s support to stay drug-free. 

“(She) has seen a significant change in Mr Kroezen. In the 10 years she has known him, she has not seen him so clear and changed,” Ms Hancock said.

“This is the first real time he has felt committed not to use drugs. The offending against his grandfather has really hit home. That is a turning point and a real motivator in that turning point.”

But Judge Frank Saccardo asked Ms Hancock why he should believe Kroezen had changed, given his extensive criminal history.

“He has had plenty of time to sort himself out. I cannot go down the community corrections path,” Judge Saccardo said.

He then warned Kroezen he would impose separate sentences on his charges and there was a risk he would receive more time behind bars.

Kroezen abandoned the appeal and was led back into custody.