Michael Kovac, 38, was sentenced for his 'outrageous' behaviour at the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to exposing emergency workers to risk by driving, dangerous driving while pursued by police, resisting a police officer, committing an offence while on bail, unlicensed driving and drug driving in August.

Judge Gabriele Cannon said Kovac's decision to drive at police officers who had pulled over on the side of the road and were no longer pursuing him must be denounced.

Kovac was on bail at the time when he refused to stop on police direction and drove dangerously and unlicensed around Ballarat while followed by a police helicopter.

The court heard Kovac was driving with two passengers in the Black Hill area at 10pm on February 10, 2020 when he stopped, told one of the passengers to get out of the car and said 'I have a feeling things are about to get hectic'.

Kovac began to drive away when police approached and he sped away erratically, swerving from side to side to avoid interception when police activated their lights and sirens.

The court heard the police officers pulled out of the pursuit to allow the air-wing to monitor Kovac.

The officers saw Kovac drive at 110km/h in an 80km/h zone, veering on to the wrong side of the road, before he began driving back toward the police car at 98km/h.

Kovac drove head on toward the police vehicle and police were in fear they would have been killed or injured if they hadn't taken evasive action and he had hit their car.

The air-wing continued to monitor Kovac as he drove erratically through Wendouree to Central Ballarat, avoiding further police attempts to intercept him.

He ran on foot when a police device deflated his tyres and he was taken to the ground during the arrest.

Judge Cannon said the fact Kovac was on drugs at the time explained his behaviour but did not reduce his high moral culpability.

Kovac wrote a letter to the court, revealing he was high on ice and had been awake for almost two weeks in a drug induced psychosis on the night of the offending.

"It is most concerning you had been on bail for less than two weeks," she said.

"In sentencing you, I must attach strong weight to general deterrence. Police must be sick and tired of being exposed to dangerous conduct.

"A strong message must be sent... that such conduct will not be tolerated."

Judge Cannon said she took into account Kovac's criminal history, including seven years spent in prison for a series of burglaries committed with his father that involved the assault of a 91-year-old woman in her home.

She said she also took into account his early plea of guilty and his remorse.

She said she accepted Kovac's time in prison would be more onerous due to his mental health difficulties and COVID-19 restrictions.

Kovac was sentenced to a total effective sentence of five years and nine months' imprisonment, with a three year and 10 month non-parole period.

He was also fined $500.

He has already served 211 days in pre-sentence detention.

Judge Cannon indicated she would have sentenced Kovac to eight years' imprisonment with a six year and three month non-parole period if he had pleaded not guilty.

The maximum sentence for exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving is 20 years' imprisonment.

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