A Wendouree hit-and-run victim has described a 27-year-old man's driving behaviour, when he slammed into her car, as selfish and outrageous.
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"I was very angry because I had done nothing wrong when I was driving, yet I lost my car, confidence and independence," the victim said in her statement, which was read to the County Court at Ballarat on Wednesday.
"It's a time and situation I do not want to go through again. I do not want to feel scared and unsafe.
"It was selfish and outrageous behaviour."
On June 8 last year Joseph Haebich was driving a stolen Holden Commodore, with his partner and her three children, when police saw him travelling 50km/h in a 40km/h zone on Gillies Street.
The court was told Haebich turned into Giot Drive when he reached speeds of 120km/h in a 40km/h road works zone, overtook three cars and almost collided with an oncoming car as he rounded a blind corner.
Police abandoned the pursuit and Haebich continued to drive dangerously on the wrong side of Dowling Street and overtook a car.
The victim was turning right into the Minerdome car park when Haebich hit her car, causing it to spin around three times.
He fled on foot, jumping over two fences while his partner and her children tried to flee the scene.
The Special Operations Group arrested Haebich 12 days later at a Black Hill property.
The court was told the victim did not receive serious injuries, but she currently experienced back pain and hearing loss.
Haebich's defence counsel told Wednesday's plea hearing Haebich was at risk of being institutionalised having spent most of his adult life in prison.
The court was told he needed "structure to assist him when he is released into the community", such as a community correction order with conditions Haebich is supervised and receives help to abstain from drug use.
But speaking directly to Judge Duncan Allen from the dock, Haebich said he did not want to be placed on another community correction order or parole.
He said he wanted to serve one more straight sentence before having "a crack" at working and rehabilitating himself in the community, without support from Corrections Victoria.
"I am over it," Haebich said.
"I have work. I can have a crack at it. I don't need Corrections (Victoria). What I need is a clean break.
Haebich said he had been given drugs while in jail but would not take it and hand it to another prisoner.
"I don't have intentions of committing crime. I have intentions of changing my life. I just want my jail sentence and get out."
Haebich, of Mount Clear, pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including four counts of theft and one count each of burglary, conduct endangering persons, assaulting an emergency worker on duty, unlicensed driving and failing to render assistance after a car accident.
Judge Allen will sentence Haebich on Friday morning. He has served 484 days of pre-sentence detention.
Haebich's mother, partner and friends were in court to support him.
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