A man who went on a night-long crime spree, stealing a car and swerving in front of police before attempting to rob a Sebastopol service station, has been jailed.
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Matthew Hill, 35, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court this week.
Hill and an unknown male attended a Delacombe business at 11pm on May 13, filling a bin and four trolleys with $5000 worth of electrical items.
One hour later, Hill stole a Mitsubishi Pajero from another Delacombe property and drove through a fence causing $1200 damage.
A police sergeant saw Hill driving behind him at a fast rate of speed along Skipton Street, before driving the wrong side of the road in the suburbs, twice towards the police sergeant and once at taxi, swerving at the last moment.
Hill later attended the Sebastopol BP service station where he put $60 of fuel in the stolen car, before entering and demanding the attendant give him cigarettes and empty the register.
The staff member pulled an alarm, with police attending and arresting Hill.
Defence lawyer Jonathan Rattray said the 98 days his client had already served in custody was adequate, and it was his first time in custody.
"This offending has well and truly been as a result of spiraling out of control with a methamphetamine affliction," Mr Rattray said.
"One would hope under the auspices of a community corrections order (CCO), my client would have good prospects of rehabilitation."
Magistrate Ron Saines said Hill "pre-meditated" the service station robbery, and the attendant "by reason of her own fear of you, handed over substantial property".
"Conduct such as this warrants a strong response from the criminal justice system."
The man was sentenced to five months of jail and a 12 month CCO.