Melissa Fry, 38, pleaded guilty to four charges including speeding, driving an unregistered vehicle, theft and failing to answer bail at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac told the court an unmarked police vehicle caught Fry driving at 120 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on Victoria Street on October 17 2018.

Police found Fry was holding a partially eaten burger in her hand when they pulled her over near the high school.

"She said her daughter was running late for a really important test," Senior Constable Repac said.

The court heard Fry was caught by police on a second occasion on January 14 after she had stolen a 40 inch television from Aldi on Creswick Road.

Senior Constable Repac said police found Fry walking with the television near the Ballarat Library, arrested her and returned the television.

When asked the reason for the theft, Fry said she stole the television for money.

Fry was also charged with failing to answer bail on July 22.

A Ballarat defence lawyer said Fry knew how 'stupid' the speeding was and understood it was a terrible example for her daughter.

The lawyer said Fry had forgotten the date and time she was due to answer bail.

The court also heard Fry suffers depression and anxiety, was currently unemployed but studying and had a lack of criminal history.

Magistrate Ron Saines convicted Fry and sentenced her to a 12 month community corrections order with a condition she complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

"Driving 50km/h over the speed limit during school hours near a school with a hamburger in your hand is a recipe for something far more serious," he said.

"The theft from Aldi was premeditated and dishonest which in many cases is also punishable by imprisonment."

Fry was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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