Blake Clarke, 24, pleaded guilty to 12 charges at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Jones said Clarke found a car that was left with its keys in the ignition in the trade area of Mitre 10 Sebastopol in May and drove it to Buninyong.

The court heard a Buninyong resident saw Clarke standing near the car outside his home, took the keys off him to stop him driving and called police due to his visibly drug-affected state.

Police chased Clarke over a fence and through bushland, tackling him to the ground while he resisted arrest.

Senior Constable Jones said Clarke had walked into the front yard of a Sebastopol property earlier that day, entered a car through an unlocked door and sat in the driver's seat.

The residents saw Clarke on CCTV and confronted him, noticing he was drug-affected when he told them he was there to purchase the car.

The court heard Clarke began to leave the property but then returned, drew a closed knife from his pocket and pointed it at the two residents, before throwing it at them and fleeing on foot.

Senior Constable Jones said Clarke was disqualified from driving for four years in December 2019, but was caught driving with methylamphetamine in his system in February.

He was caught driving while disqualified again in July while he was on bail with conditions not to drive.

The court heard police found Clarke sleeping inside his car one week later, breaking his bail condition of a curfew and to live at his family's Clarkes Hill address.

Clarke's defence lawyer said he was a youthful offender with a limited criminal history.

She said Clarke had a history of mental health issues and began self-medicating by using drugs in 2016.

"I am instructed on most occasions Blake was drug-affected and can't remember much about the offending, particularly the assault with a weapon and car theft," the lawyer said.

The lawyer said Clarke had done well on the Court Integrated Services Program while on bail and rehabilitation should be the primary sentencing consideration.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt asked why he should not consider a sentence of imprisonment for this young offender who 'ignored sanctions of the court and conditions of bail'.

He said Clarke was facing two charges of driving while disqualified within months of having his licence cancelled for four years and had prior convictions for driving suspended.

Mr Klestadt also questioned why Clarke was hesitant to engage with services and receive proper treatment and support for his mental health issues.

"He is a young man from a country background. He doesn't like talking about himself," the lawyer said in response.

"At this stage in his life, he is not receptive to counselling... Since he has been abstinent since July, he would like to get back to work because he feels it gives him purpose."

Mr Klestadt said he was concerned Clarke would be set up to fail if mental health treatment and support was not in place.

"If he doesn't learn coping strategies and there is a test of his resilience, I am not confident he would not return to illicit drug use," he said.

The case was adjourned to Friday when Mr Klestadt sentenced Clarke to a nine-month community corrections order with conditions he undergo drug and mental health treatment.

He was convicted and fined $100 for driving while disqualified and in an unregistered car.

Mr Klestadt said he took into account Clarke's plea of guilty and relatively good history in sentencing.

"If you are able to stay away from drugs there is every reason to believe you won't be back before the court," he said.

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