Two police officers feared for their safety when Michael James Cameron Howell drove directly at them in a stolen car on October 20, 2019.

Howell had turned his headlights on high beam and accelerated towards the officers when he saw them approach, causing them to run back to their car and move it to avoid being hit.

Four days later he was found in possession of a sawn-off shotgun and 23 cartridges for the gun in a stolen car.

Judge John Smallwood said he was most concerned about Howell's risk to the community during a plea hearing at the County Court on Monday.

"The only purpose of a sawn-off shotgun is to shoot people or to make them think you are going to," he said.

"Pull the trigger on one of those and you have got a dead body on your hands."

The crime spree began on September 11, 2019 when Howell was seen driving unlicensed in a stolen car.

Seven days later he was seen driving another car that was stolen during an aggravated burglary in Brown Hill bearing stolen registration plates.

A victim of one of the car thefts said she was pregnant at the time and the theft of her car meant they did not have a suitable vehicle to transport their infant, so they had to walk home from the hospital after the birth.

The victim said in a statement to the court she had to see a counsellor for her anxiety since the theft.

"The theft has left me feeling violated and afraid," she said.

Police executed a search warrant at Howell's home and found identification cards belonging to the victim of an aggravated burglary.

Howell pleaded guilty to smashing the windows of three cars in October 2019 and stealing items from inside.

He also admitted to driving dangerously, using a stolen credit card and stealing 100 litres of diesel fuel from Ballan Gold Club.

Howell was arrested on October 24, 2019 inside a Wendouree hotel.

In addition to the shotgun and ammunition, police found drugs, stolen items and equipment used to steal in the stolen car he had driven to the venue.

Howell was on two community corrections at the time of the offending.

Defence barrister Luke Barker said Howell had spent almost one year and eight months in custody.

He said Howell had a disadvantaged background and an intellectual disability.

He said COVID-19 had made Howell's time in custody more difficult with no personal visits or education or rehab courses.

Howell will be assessed for a community corrections order and will return to court on Friday for the prosecution and defence to make further submissions.

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