Zane East, 23, pleaded guilty to 29 charges, including 11 counts of theft, nine counts of driving unlicensed, recklessly causing injury, criminal damage, altering a registration plate, two counts of failing to stop for police, handling stolen goods, driving while impaired by a drug, committing an indictable offence on bail, and driving while disqualified.

East left a woman with significant bruising in February after pulling her hair, punching her, pushing her, stomping on her head and grabbing her by the throat.

In one incident, the woman fled to another room in a house but East kicked and hit the door until it fell in, then continued to strike her.

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Last September police tried to intercept East in Stray Street, Long Gully, but he drove off at a fast speed.

When police later spoke to the owner of the vehicle, she said East - who was disqualified at the time - had been driving.

Between early January and early March this year, East stole seven vehicles in Bendigo and Maryborough, most of which he hot-wired.

One of the victims of these thefts saw their vehicle and followed it, before East crashed the car.

On another vehicle he altered the number plates using a permanent marker.

He committed four petrol-drive offs between January and March, and again failed to stop for police.

East also received stolen number plates.

At the time of these offences, East was unlicensed and using both methamphetamine and cannabis daily.

Defence lawyer Kate Youngson told the Bendigo Magistrates' Court East did not have a propensity for violence, but had issues with methamphetamine use.

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Ms Youngson said East had very little memory of the incidents involving the woman due to drug use.

East was co-operative with police, she said, and made full admissions.

She said East was homeless at the time he was stealing vehicles and was using them to sleep in.

Ms Youngson said her client had family support, and his future focus was on his family, with whom he was keen to build a relationship.

East was assessed for a community corrections order, but the resulting report identified a possible intellectual disability and acquired brain injury.

Magistrate Ross Betts adjourned the matter to July 8 to allow for a more thorough assessment.

East remains in custody.

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