A Creswick man accused of driving at police officers, speeding at 120km/h in a 50 zone, and stealing clothes from a laundromat will be given one more chance to get 'on the right path'.
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Tristan Stringer, 22, is accused of several dangerous acts after his release from prison last year, including allegedly driving dangerously while unlicenced across the state.
However, Magistrate Letizia Torres said he had good prospects of rehabilitation, adjourning his case to check on his progress in Court Integrated Service Programs.
"I would prefer not to send you to jail," she told Stringer at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court this week.
"I need to make sure you're on the right track - you need to complete drug counselling, you need to do things in the right order so you don't stumble and continue to make mistakes."
According to the police summary, Stringer allegedly committed multiple offences in March this year, including being spotted on CCTV stealing three baskets of clothing from a Golden Point laundromat.
He failed to attend at his registered address during a curfew check, and was spotted several times in a stolen vehicle.
On March 28, Bendigo officers allege Stringer accelerated towards police when they attempted to intercept him near Kangaroo Flat, leading the officers to jump out of the way.
The vehicle, allegedly stolen, was followed, and Stringer was eventually arrested after being found hiding in a shed - a flick-knife was allegedly found in the vehicle.
Stringer's lawyer said he will be contesting the conduct endangering serious injury charge relating to driving at police.
The court was also told about previous offending from October last year, where a vehicle was seen speeding in Pakenham, clocked at an alleged 102km/h in a 50 zone.
When police activated lights and sirens, the driver failed to stop, allegedly reaching an estimated speed of 120km/h.
The registration was checked, which led to the vehicle's previous owner, who said he had sold it to another man, who allegedly sold it to Stringer - Facebook Messenger conversations were provided.
The police summary states when Stringer was approached by police about the matter, he "laughed at (the officer), and found the situation amusing".
He was then charged with failing to give information about the vehicle's ownership.
He was also arrested after allegedly suspiciously loitering near the former ACM print facility in Wendouree in March, and tried to push through police officers.
Stringer's lawyer noted his compliance with CISP so far had been good, if interrupted by a relationship breakdown recently, but he was addressing substance abuse issues.
"He's just fallen of an retracted from support, which is unfortunate, as they're the things he should have been doing," his lawyer said.
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Ms Torres noted there had been no further offending since he was bailed in April, but stated Stringer had a "terrible history, and these are serious offences".
She said she would defer her sentence indication until August, and possibly until after that, depending on Stringer's progress.
Stringer pleaded guilty to not providing details about the ownership of the car, and was disqualified from driving for two years.
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