Zane East pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court this week to numerous crimes.

Last September, the 24-year-old used scissors to break into a vehicle in Kangaroo Flat, stealing a Swiss army knife and coins, valued at $100, and causing damage of $100. However, he cut himself in the process and left behind a bloodstained serviette, which provided DNA evidence that linked him to the crime.

Several days later, East stole a Holden Commodore station wagon from Forest Street and two days later filled it with $40 at a Strathdale petrol station, driving off without paying.

At that time, the vehicle was bearing stolen number plates.

East was arrested later that month and admitted to breaking into vehicles using scissors.

Then in December, police patrolling in North Bendigo saw East next to a car that matched the description of a vehicle reported for erratic driving.

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When East saw the officers, he quickly got into the vehicle.

The police drove into the driveway but East reversed his vehicle and while police tried to move their car out of the way, East crashed heavily into the passenger side of the vehicle.

He continued to accelerate, with his vehicle bouncing forward before hitting the police car again.

East then drove up onto a footpath and nature strip, rejoined the road, and sped off.

The police vehicle had to be towed from the scene, while the number plates on East's vehicle were stolen.

The following day, East was seen running from a stolen vehicle in Long Gully; his prints were later found in the vehicle.

Later that month, his fingerprints were found in another stolen vehicle, a Nissan Skyline taken from the Castlemaine area.

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In January this year, police saw East on a motorcycle in the driveway of a Kangaroo Flat address.

When police turned into the driveway, East rode straight at them, before swerving at the last second.

He then fled the scene on foot; the motorcycle was found to have been stolen.

On January 16, police saw East driving a stolen Commodore in Strathdale.

The following day, East - driving the stolen vehicle - failed to stop for police in Golden Square when they activated their lights and sirens.

Travelling on Booth Street he reached an estimated 100 km/h and narrowly avoided a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle when he overtook another car, thanks to the evasive actions of the other driver.

East was arrested two days later, and told police he had been stealing vehicles to live in.

He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft, criminal damage, three counts of handling stolen goods, five counts of driving while disqualified, damaging an emergency service vehicle, recklessly exposing emergency workers to risk by driving, failing to stop after a crash, dangerous driving while pursued by police, and possessing methamphetamine, after magistrate Megan Aumair indicated he would receive a significant benefit from such a plea.

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Defence lawyer Luke Docherty said East instructed he had turned back to drugs late last year after his pregnant partner lost the baby.

Mr Docherty said East had long-term issues with drugs, having started using cannabis at 12 and ice at 14.

East was experiencing homelessness at the time of his offending, he said, had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and his cognitive functioning fell within the range of a mild intellectual disability.

Mr Docherty submitted a guilty plea was of significant benefit, but conceded imprisonment had to be imposed.

Magistrate Megan Aumair said she wanted to have East assessed by Victoria's forensic mental health service before she sentenced him or gave an indication of his likely sentence.

East was remanded in custody to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court again on June 10.

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