A Ballarat man who has been in and out of prison for the past 15 years has failed to get bail over allegations he stabbed a woman and sped dangerously away from police.
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Benjamin Edward Schultz's current prison sentence ends on August 10 but serious assault and driving charges he will not admit to would keep him locked up on remand for longer.
This prompted the 32-year-old, of no fixed address, to apply to be released on bail at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday.
The court was told Schultz was released from prison in August on a community corrections order and within weeks, he allegedly evaded police while driving an unregistered silver Holden Commodore in Delacombe on September 6.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jack Fletcher said the vehicle was travelling 80km/h in a 60km/h zone along Latrobe Street at 1.05pm when police activated their lights for the driver to pull over after seeing him using his mobile phone.
He said the driver appeared as though he was going to stop and an officer saw the male driver was Schultz, with a tattoo on the right side of his neck.
As police were about to exit their car, he allegedly sped off on the wrong side of the road and onto oncoming traffic, almost hitting a loader truck along Sutton Street.
Police checks revealed Schultz was allegedly driving his girlfriend, Aimee Spicer's, unregistered vehicle while he was unlicensed. The vehicle was later located and allegedly contained medication and charge sheets under Schultz's and Ms Spicer's names.
One week later on September 13, a woman was walking along Marigold Street, Wendouree, when she was allegedly involved in an altercation with Schultz and his daughter.
Police allege Schultz grabbed the woman's neck and used a kitchen knife to stab her in the left cheek. The knife went through her cheek and sliced her tongue, requiring eight stitches to her cheek.
Senior Constable Fletcher said the stabbing occurred after Schultz's daughter phoned her father from inside a Marigold Street house about the altercation with the alleged victim. Schultz allegedly attended and located the woman in the street.
Schultz was arrested and remanded in custody on September 25 and has remained in prison since.
The prosecution opposed Schultz's application because of his unacceptable risk or re-offending.
"There seems to be a theme where the applicant continues to offend when released back into the public. The risk to the public is grave.
- Senior Constable Jack Fletcher
Defence barrister Dianne Mitchell said her client denied the alleged stabbing and the dangerous driving due to an identification issue.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic made prisons more onerous and Shultz's case would be delayed due to the changed court procedures. Schultz has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and was diagnosed with schizophrenia about five years ago.
It was proposed Schultz would live in Melbourne with his girlfriend, who has been his co-accused in his offending, if he was bailed.
Magistrate Noreen Toohey paid particular attention to Schultz's prior criminal history, which started in the adult court in 2005 and included firearm, driving and dishonesty offences, over 35 pages.
"I am not satisfied the applicant has made out exceptional circumstances," Ms Toohey said.
"In both sets of charges the applicant has put the police and community at risk. I am not satisfied that any bail condition can mitigate the risk he poses."
Schultz, who wore rosary beads around his neck during the hearing where he appeared by video link, was remanded in custody. He will reappear in court on July 31 for a further mention.
Schultz faces a number of charges, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury and dangerous driving.
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