Benjamin Schultz, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury.

The victim was walking along Marigold Street, Wendouree, on September 10 when she was allegedly involved in an altercation with a group of youths.

During the altercation, Schultz's daughter phoned him and he attended the street.

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.

Magistrate Ron Saines told Schultz, who appeared by a video link from prison, the stabbing was serious offending and he must get a stern warning from the court.

"This is extreme violence. It's unprovoked," Mr Saines said.

"There is no sentence other than imprisonment. Hopefully when you get older, you will get sick of the prison system and conduct yourself in a lawfully otherwise you will spend longer in the prison system."

Four days before the stabbing, Schultz evaded police while driving an unregistered silver Holden Commodore in Delacombe.

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, hey 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 driving his girlfriend, Aimee Spicer's, unregistered vehicle while he was unlicensed.

The vehicle was later located and contained a police brief of evidence containing Schultz's and Ms Spicer's names.

Schultz pleaded guilty to failing to stop on police direction, unlicensed driving and speeding over the incident.

He was fined $600 and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with one month to be served concurrently with the 12-month sentence.

The magistrate said it was remarkable a dangerous driving charge was withdrawn.

Of the 13-month total sentence, Schultz has served 22 days. He must pay $127.40 court costs.

Schultz pleaded guilty after receiving a sentence indication from the court. Defence barrister barrister Dianne Mitchell submitted a parole period to be imposed but Mr Saines was not satisfied.

Schultz would have been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for the stabbing if he did not plead guilty, according to the magistrate.

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