Police were forced to abandon a pursuit in Mount Pleasant earlier this year after a man driving a stolen ute reached speeds of 100km/h.
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Brent Maciejewski led police on the pursuit in Elsworth Street after he stole the black ute during an exchange with a friend in nearby Geelong Road on April 15.
The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told on Thursday Maciejewski attended a friend’s house in Mount Clear when the victim parked his black ute on the side of Geelong Road.
Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Aimee Heal said there was an exchange between the accused and the victim.
“As a result the accused took over the car and left in the victim’s car against the wishes of the victim,” Acting Sergeant Heal said.
She said the victim did not report the stolen ute to police until three days later because he feared Maciejewski and what he was capable of.
The court was told police approached the stolen ute in Kenworthy Place, Mount Pleasant, but it drove away, turning right into Elsworth Street.
Action Sergeant Heal said police identified the driver as Maciejewski, who drove through a stop sign and sped along Elsworth Street.
She said he increased his speed to 100km/h and drove through a roundabout before police abandoned the chase.
In another incident on June 5, police were called to a Bell Street address in Redan in relation to suspicious persons.
Maciejewski, who gave police a false name, was found with 3.6 grams of the drug ice.
The 27-year-old, who is in custody, sought a sentence indication from the court on Thursday because the next hearing date was not until December.
The court was told Maciejewski was still grieving the loss of his parents 18 months ago and he had been stabbed in the face by an inmate while in custody.
He was addicted to the drug ice, but had his partner’s support, had a place to live and could obtain employment as a panel beater or operating earthmovers.
Magistrate Alan Spillane said the 72 days Maciejewski had already served in custody was a sufficient sentence.
He accepted the indication and pleaded guilty to a string of charges, including car theft, unlicensed driving, failing to stop on police request, handling a stolen television, possessing ice and failing to answer bail.
Maciejewski was jailed for 72 days, fined and banned from driving for 12 months.