Michael Anthony Dawson, 28, pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to offences committed in October 2019.

Police lawyer Jenna Bridges said Dawson was caught on CCTV driving with false plates and stealing petrol on October 5.

The court heard on the same day Dawson used a bank card that was reported stolen to buy alcohol.

Ms Bridges said on October 6, Dawson stole 105 packets of beef jerky worth $500 from Coles and stole $138 of alcohol from a liquor store.

On October 8, police saw Dawson driving an unregistered car that had extensive damage and different wheel sizes. He was also driving unlicensed and the car had stolen registration plates.

Ms Bridges said Dawson gave a false name to police and ran away. He was later arrested and said he gave a false name and ran from police because he was scared.

Defence lawyer Kristen Morrow said it was not Dawson's first time in custody.

She said his offending was a result of alcohol, poor decision making and negative peer influences.

The court heard Dawson is diagnosed with autism and he had previously held a full time job but at the time of the offending he was using alcohol in a state of depression after a relationship breakdown.

Ms Morrow said Dawson had completed a drug and alcohol counselling course while in custody.

Dawson has spent 152 days in pre-sentence detention, but he is also in custody on other matters relating to an aggravated burglary and car theft that is proceeding to a contested committal hearing.

Magistrate Noreen Toohey said Dawson needed assistance, but ultimately it was up to him whether he attended the services for help.

She noted his history of non-compliance with court-based orders and relevant prior convictions.

Ms Toohey said it was 'difficult to understand' Dawson's offending.

She said his future would come down to whether he could stay away from alcohol abuse.

Dawson was sentenced to a total effective period of five months imprisonment and fined $600.

He will remain in custody on the unresolved aggravated burglary charge.

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