Jarrod Cakebread, pleading guilty and currently on remand, was arrested earlier in June after a "crime spree" - he was allegedly involved in the theft of five cars, two petrol drive-offs, theft of a set of number plates from a car parked in Lydiard Street, and breaking into four cars.

One of the cars he allegedly stole was parked on Mair Street near the Ballarat Base Hospital, and another was on Learmonth Street outside McCallum Disability Service.

One of the cars he and three co-accused broke into was outside Nazareth House, and the victim's bank card was later found at his address.

Some of the cars are still unaccounted for.

His defence lawyer noted the days he had spent in custody - for a previous sentence, he served 132 days but was only given a 30 days sentence - and Cakebread's struggles with drugs and mental health issues.

"The offending is definitely related to his use of methamphetamine, he's got longstanding problems," his lawyer said.

"He instructs 'things were going well, spent a week out of trouble"' but fell back into methamphetamine abuse, and said he was in a drug-induced psychosis."

Cakebread had previously been remanded in December, and remained in custody until May 9, where he was given a 30 day sentence after "significant charges" were withdrawn.

He was then remanded again on June 6.

While his lawyer pointed to the gains Cakebread had made in the "structured environment" while in custody, Magistrate Ron Saines said a non-parole period was likely.

"The parole board is resourced to be able to enforce conditions more than Corrections," he said, noting this could include strict curfews with ankle bracelets.

"It appears to me there's an unassailable case around parole."

Mr Saines adjourned the case for sentencing next month, and Cakebread could be heard swearing over the video-link before it was switched off.

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