Darren Rule, 24, pleaded guilty to charges in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The court heard Rule was intercepted by police while he was driving unlicensed in March and he received a penalty notice, but further enquiries revealed he had been disqualified from driving.

Rule had been on a corrections order at the time that had been varied and breached on several occasions, the court heard.

Tessa Barbary, from Corrections Victoria, said there had been little compliance with the order and while he had been suitable for programs and counselling he did not engage with them.

His lawyer, Heidi Keighran, conceded that Rule had an "abysmal record in relation to driving and criminal matters" and that a term of imprisonment was appropriate, but she asked the magistrate to consider a term that was "not crushing".

"Mr Rule is unmotivated or unable to complete a corrections order and has indicated he is not prepared or able to do a corrections order in the future," she told the court.

Ms Keighran said her client had a difficult upbringing and submitted he had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity, which showed remorse.

Magistrate Noreen Toohey said there was "nothing for the court to do but impose a prison term".

"He is only 24 but has a shocking history. He continues to drive despite court orders telling him he is disqualified and not allowed to," she said, adding he also had a history of failing oral fluid tests.

Ms Toohey gave him a week to get his affairs in order and asked him to return to court next week, when the corrections order would be cancelled.

"I think it's really unfortunate for him that he can't comply with a corrections order. That means for the future the only sentence a court will impose is jail terms."

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