A man allegedly stole from a Sebastopol business and, while trying to escape, rammed a fence and car, and drove away with a man holding onto his car bonnet.
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Nathan John Mann, 25, was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage, unlawful assault and shop theft following the incident in December, 2019.
He appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to contest the reckless conduct endangering serious injury and unlawful assault charges.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steven Repac said the accused was seen inside Autobarn, Sebastopol, walking around with a female.
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He said a staff member saw an item sticking out of the female's bag and tried to stop the pair outside the store.
The court was told a member of the public used his vehicle to try and block Mann from leaving the carpark in his car but Mann allegedly hit his vehicle before reversing into a steel fence.
Senior Constable Repac said a second witness tried to take Mann's keys out of his car's ignition but Mann grabbed her hand and pushed her, causing her to fall back.
He said Mann then drove out of the Autobarn carpark onto Albert Street and into the Aldi supermarket carpark with a man on his bonnet.
The court was told when Mann stopped his car, said asked the victim if he wanted to have "a go".
Senior Constable Repac said police interviewed Mann, who admitted he reversed into the steel fence and held the victim's hand as she tried to take the keys out of the ignition.
He said Mann denied he drove with the man on his bonnet in a reckless manner. Mann would not give police the female's name.
Defence lawyer Domenic Care said his client contested the reckless conduct endangering serious injury and unlawful assault charges and would plead guilty to damaging the victim's car, although he disputed the extent of the damage.
Mr Care said the man jumped on Mann's bonnet to stop him from leaving and Mann drove around the carpark and two doors down into the Aldi carpark at a slow speed.
He said the charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury was not made out and an offer to plead guilty to carless driving had been made to the prosecution.
However, Senior Constable Repac said regardless of the speed, the accused was driving with someone on the car's bonnet.
Magistrate Ron Saines indicated he would impose a non-custodial sentence if Mann pleaded guilty on Wednesday and "imprisonment would be in the range" if Mann was found guilty of the charges after a contested hearing.
Mann rejected the sentence indication and chose to proceed to a contested hearing.
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