Jacinta Kennett, 30, appeared via video link from custody at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sam Young said Kennett called a taxi with co-accused Matthew Peoples and entered when it picked them up in Ballarat East.

He said the taxi driver recognised Kennett because she had not paid for her ride a week earlier and he told her she would have to pay for the trip before he began driving.

Kennett and the co-accused allegedly yelled and screamed at the taxi driver for about five minutes in a verbal dispute and the driver asked them to get out of his car.

The court heard Kennett allegedly ripped the camera from the roof of the taxi, causing damage, and threw it out the window.

The co-accused allegedly placed the driver in a headlock and Kennett allegedly punched him to the head 15 to 20 times.

Kennett is accused of grabbing the driver's mobile phone out of his hands and pulling on the rear view mirror while the co-accused exited the car and punched the driver to the head.

Senior Constable Young said the co-accused allegedly walked away from the car before pulling out a knife and yelling 'I am going to kill you'.

The court heard the driver feared he was going to die so he tried to drive away with Kennett still in the car.

She allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and swerved the car on the road.

She is accused of kicking the windscreen twice, causing it to smash, before she opened a door and jumped out of the car while it was still moving.

The taxi driver sustained two loose bottom teeth, a split lip and had blood on his clothing and the taxi was damaged.

Senior Constable Young said Kennett was an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and failing to appear on bail because she had a history of breaching bail conditions.

The court heard Kennett was sentenced to a community corrections order last year and was due to face the County Court again for failing to start the order.

Kennett's boyfriend gave evidence to the court she could live with him in Bacchus Marsh if released on bail.

Her defence lawyer said exceptional circumstances for bail were shown through a combination of factors, including Kennett's severe mental health issues and health issues in custody.

The lawyer said she could have support while on bail to address her alcohol use and a bail condition could be not to consume alcohol.

The alleged incident happened in February and Kennett was arrested on March 9 on outstanding warrants.

Magistrate Noreen Toohey said it was a nasty assault by two people on an innocent taxi driver.

"She comes before the court with 19 pages of prior criminal history. She is someone who tells the court she is more than happy to engage in services, then she does nothing," she said.

"I do have significant concerns about her failing to appear at court. She is someone who in my view is a real risk.

"The nature of this unprovoked attack by two people is a really serious incident."

Kennett was refused bail.

She will return to court in June.

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