A BENDIGO man who stole a car and crashed it six days later has been given a chance to avoid a lengthy prison sentence.
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Tennyson Woods, 21, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to seven charges including theft of a motor vehicle, careless driving, and failing to render assistance.
The court heard Woods stole a Toyota Camry from a Balwyn address on February 5 this year.
He also stole number plates from a vehicle parked in Carlton on February 6.
On February 11, Woods was driving the stolen Camry along Stud Road in Wantirna, in the state's south-east.
He had two passengers in the car when he crashed into the back of another vehicle near the intersection of Coleman Road.
The driver of that car was injured in the collision and taken to hospital.
The court heard Woods fled the scene of the crash and failed to assist the injured victim.
Police located and arrested the 21-year-old a short time later.
He was searched and police found two ziplock bags containing a crystal substance believed to be ketamine, the keys to the stolen Camry, and a Medicare card under a different name.
The Camry was also searched and police found two bottles of testosterone.
Woods was taken to hospital but did not require treatment for any serious injuries. He admitted to taking the drug ice the day prior to the crash.
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Woods was on a community corrections order at the time of the offending.
Defence lawyer Robert Morgan told the court Woods had spent 120 days in pre-sentence detention.
Mr Morgan said his client turned to drug use to manage his grief following his father's death.
Mr Morgan said Woods wanted to get clean and seek help for his long-standing mental health issues.
The defence counsel said Woods planned to move away from Bendigo so he could receive that support and avoid bad influences.
Magistrate Russell Kelly said Woods was looking at a jail term with a non-parole period.
But Mr Kelly said Woods was a young man who could be supported through his community corrections order.
The magistrate said he would defer sentence to October to see if Woods could cooperate with the order.
"If you maintain your current form, you won't last the four months," Mr Kelly said. "But I want to see a glowing report from corrections when we come back."
Woods was released on bail so he could re-engage with the community corrections order.
His licence was also cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for six months.
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