A Warrnambool motorist guilty of "mind-blowing" driving offences has been released from custody after serving over 150 days of dead time in jail.
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Leigh James, 31, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court via a video link on Wednesday and was told he would walk free from jail that day.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said he believed James had last week accepted a sentence indication of nine months' jail and an 18-month community corrections order.
But lawyer Sarah Condon said her client had served 151 days of "dead time" in custody after James was remanded on charges that were later dismissed.
Those charges related to the theft of firearms from a Tower Hill property in August last year.
Ms Condon said the 151 days could not be counted as time served for the offences James pleaded guilty to but urged the magistrate to take the dead time into account and release her client from custody that day.
The magistrate agreed and sentenced James to 119 days' jail, all of which has already been served in custody on remand.
James was banned from driving when police observed him in charge of cars in October and November last year.
On October 4 he went to Timboon where he bought a black Holden Calais, using his own bank card but allegedly signed a receipt in the name of a Warrnambool police officer.
He then filled up with fuel in Timboon.
James was then seen driving by police and speeding, up to 78km/h in a 50 zone, a number of times in Warrnambool.
He was arrested on November 2 in an unregistered car carrying false number plates and the car was impounded attracting fees of $1130.
Mr Guthrie described James' repeat offending in a short period of time as "mind-blowing" and said the man simply didn't care he was banned from driving.
He also placed James on an 18-month community corrections order but not "without hesitation".
Mr Guthrie said James was subject to seven community-based orders between 2009 and 2019, four of which he contravened by non-compliance or further offending.
"It's noted that he contravened the last community corrections order approximately seven weeks after his release from prison, despite indicating his intention to adhere to the conditions," Mr Guthrie said.
"He appeared to express no remorse for his behaviour and held limited insight.... He was nonchalant in his speech when discussing the charges before the court."
Mr Guthrie said despite hesitancies, James had potential employment and would benefit from further treatment for mental health and substance abuse.
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