Jackson Paul Hilson, 29, was sentenced in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, and contravening a community corrections order.

The court heard on the evening of November 20 last year, police saw Hilson driving a Nissan Navara utility erratically along Bellbridge Drive in Hoppers Crossing.

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Police followed the stolen vehicle at a distance, noting Hilson appeared to have difficulty operating the car.

The vehicle drove through a red light at speeds between 50km/h and 60km/h before performing a u-turn and a series of right-hand turns.

The court heard police could see that Hilson was becoming agitated in the vehicle.

As Hilson drove through Pannam Drive, Hilson's partner stepped out in front of police officers to try and stop them.

The officers drove around and continued to follow Hilson as he continued around the block.

The woman came out in front of the police car a second time and Hilson exited the vehicle to flee on foot.

He was chased down and arrested, as was his partner a short time later.

During his record of police interview, Hilson told police he borrowed the car from a friend in Bendigo.

Hilson said he knew the vehicle was unregistered but was unaware that it was an outstanding stolen ute.

Defence lawyer Natasha Wolan told the court Hilson had been remanded in custody only 11 days after he was released on a community corrections order.

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Ms Wolan said the 29-year-old was also on remand for different offending that would be heard in the County Court.

The defence lawyer said Hilson started using methamphetamine, cannabis, and GHB at the age of 25 after his long-term relationship broke down.

Ms Wolan submitted that Hilson was now clean from drugs and had been productive completing programs in prison.

The defence lawyer said Hilson also had a supportive family and work opportunities for when he was eventually released from custody.

Ms Wolan said a straight prison term would be an appropriate sentence.

Magistrate Sharon McRae said Hilson had been on a "downward spiral" before he was remanded in custody, but it was clear that prison had been a positive "life-changing" event for the 29-year-old.

"Just because you mucked up in the past does not mean that you need to do that again in the future," the magistrate said.

Ms McRae convicted and sentenced Hilson to 90 days in jail, with 90 days reckoned as already served.

If he did not plead guilty, Hilson would have been jailed for five months.

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