A young unlicensed driver was back behind the wheel within four days of being caught by police and charged for breaking the law.
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Jackson Hanshaw-Brown was caught driving by police in Ballarat on November 7 and November 11 2020, although he had never had a drivers' licence.
The court heard he has an extensive criminal history and he had been disqualified from driving for offending in the past.
Magistrate Noreen Toohey said the starting point for her sentencing consideration was prison.
"It seems to me all the community corrections orders in the past have done nothing to ensure he is not back driving without a licence," she said.
"If he continues to drive without a licence he will go to prison."
Defence lawyer Georgia Kaye-Helmot said Hanshaw-Brown was immature and needed support and guidance.
She said he had not re-offended since the end of 2020 and he had sold the car he had been caught driving in.
Ms Toohey ordered Hanshaw-Brown be assessed for a community corrections order, but warned he would go to prison if he was caught driving again.
He will return to court for sentencing.
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