Corey Blazevicious, 18, appeared at the online Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal hearing but after negotiations, he pleaded guilty to the robbery and the court granted summary jurisdiction.

Crown prosecutor Tahlia Ferrari said on May 19 at 11pm the 24-year-old victim was walking south along Joseph Street, Ballarat East, on his way home from work.

She said a vehicle approached the victim from behind, pulled up beside him and the driver, Blazevicious, asked him "What have you got?" to which the victim replied, "I don't know what you mean".

Blazevicious repeatedy asked the victim, "What have you got?" and the victim thought he was talking about drugs and replied with "Sorry man, I don't have anything" and smiled to be polite.

Ms Ferrari said Blazevicious told him not to smile before an unknown male told him to give him all of his s**t.

"The victim then ran away. He was chased by the male that had exited the vehicle while the vehicle also took pursuit of the victim," Ms Ferrari said.

"The victim made it to the intersection of Joseph Street and York Street before realising he was not going to be able to outrun a vehicle so stopped and said, 'Look, I will give you what you want'."

Ms Ferrari said Blazevicious then pulled the vehicle over, got out and started pushing and shoving the victim, saying "Give me all your stuff".

The victim's mobile phone, packet of cigarettes and headphones were then taken from his pocket.

The court was told as Blazevicious drove away, he drove through the York and Joseph streets roundabout on the wrong side of the road.

He was on youth justice parole at the time of the offences.

Defence barrister John Desmond said his client's plea of guilty was relatively early. He said Blazevicious had turned 18-years-old one month before the robbery.

"He is a young offender. Every effort towards rehabilitation should be maximised for this man, in particular, in that he is making positive efforts to turn his life around," Mr Desmond said.

He submitted a short term of imprisonment was appropriate for Blazevicious, who is currently serving a sentence at a youth justice centre imposed in December.

Mr Desmond said any robbery was serious but it was not an armed robbery and "on the scale of robberies that come before the court, it's at the lower end".

Magistrate Ron Saines said he would not be treating the incident as at the lower end of the scale for robberies.

"He was not alone. It's a very cowardly act of a soft target," Mr Saines said.

Blazevicious will be assessed for youth justice and he was remanded in custody to reappear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court next week for sentencing.

He pleaded guilty to robbery, unlicensed driving and careless driving.