A 25-year-old man who served 102 days in prison for driving while on meth is "very rapidly becoming what's known as a waste of space", a magistrate said.
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Jake McCarthy was arrested earlier this year for a number of offences, including driving stolen vehicles while disqualified, evading police, speeding, dealing meth, using false number plates, and failing to appear at court.
He pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
The court was told in December last year, McCarthy was spotted by police in a stolen car in Ararat, and he accelerated away at an estimated speed of 130kmh.
A separate brief detailed police stopping him after he got out of a car, which he denied driving.
A search of the car revealed bags of meth, a set of scales with meth residue, and a bundle of cash.
His defence lawyer, Scott Belcher, said he had an "unenviable" history, but he had turned his life around while in custody, getting clean and completing programs.
He said if released, McCarthy had strong community support, would be able to enter a rehabilitation program, and potentially get a job, as well as move away from ice-using friends in Ararat.
Magistrate Alan Spillane said he was concerned about McCarthy's "selfish" lack of regard for the law.
"No one can be that stupid, it must be the drugs," he said.
"Police ask you to stop and you choose to drive like a maniac and put others at risk.
"You've taken 102 days of taxpayer money - you are becoming a skin cancer on the skin of the public.
"Despite all that ... there really are some positives in your case, thin things in your favour.
"You've used time in custody creatively - it's a pity you haven't grabbed family and community support (earlier)."
McCarthy was convicted and sentenced to time served, and fined $950.
He was disqualified from driving for two years.
"If you want to go back to Ravenhall or, dare I say, Port Phillip, drive a car," Mr Spillane said.
"It's entirely up to you whether or not you go back to prison."
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