The 20-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared at Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video link from police cells on Friday morning and pleaded guilty to three charges.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Mitch Prewett said the woman was charged with stalking for keeping her former partner under surveillance and following him in her car.

She also breached an intervention order taken out against her by picking the victim up in her car and driving around the western region together.

The court heard the woman lived with her parents and her actions were 'outside the normal course of behaviour'.

Magistrate Ron Saines said she had committed serious criminal offences, particularly stalking which was punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

"It is very important for you to understand the reason you are in custody is because there is always expected to be a swift response to people who breach intervention orders," he said.

"All forms of family violence have been front and centre in terms of concern and government action for many years now.

"Your breach of an intervention order sees you being held in custody now because this is the sort of response the parliament expects of Victoria Police."

The woman was sentenced to a good behaviour bond, given her young age and no prior experience in the criminal justice system.

Mr Saines said she had a 'pretty confronting' introduction to the consequences of breaching an intervention order by being in custody overnight.

The woman was ordered to make a $400 donation to the court fund and receive mental health treatment as directed by her doctor.

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