Glen Mansfield, 18, who was living in Shepparton at the time, successfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
He is charged with aggravated carjacking, vehicle theft, assault, and a breach of his licence conditions.
He has has not entered pleas to the charges.
Senior Constable Victoria Watson told the court the Uber driver picked up Mr Mansfield in Shepparton at 11.55pm on August 24.
Ten minutes later, he told the driver to pull over the Volkswagen Touareg, and then allegedly pulled out a knife and told him he was “going to take his car”, Sen Constable Watson said.
“He told the victim he didn’t want to hurt him,” Sen Constable Watson said.
The driver was left on the side of the road as Mr Mansfield allegedly drove off in his car.
Police spotted the car on Numurkah Rd, Shepparton and tried to stop it just before 1am, but it drove off.
It was found at 2.40am abandoned in Northumberland Cres.
The court heard the Uber was paid for from Mr Mansfield’s bank account.
Police identified fingerprints lifted from the car as Mr Mansfield’s.
He was arrested on Monday, September 1, before being taken before the court the following day for a bail application.
Sen Constable Watson said Mr Mansfield was involved in several aggravated burglaries and evading police with a group of people across Victoria and southern NSW in March, but was given a caution by police for his part.
Sen Constable Watson opposed bail, saying the carjacking was premeditated, as Mr Mansfield had gone to it with a knife.
She said his behaviour was escalating and placing members of the community in danger.
The Uber driver has not returned to Shepparton since the incident, with Sen Constable Watson saying he was worried that if Mr Mansfield was bailed he might recognise him and his car.
When questioned about having only turned 18 three days before the alleged carjacking, Mr Mansfield said he “kinda stayed up partying too long”.
Mr Mansfield’s defence solicitor Ian Michaelson said his client was young, was doing Year 12, could live with an uncle in Kyabram if bailed, and could take part in the Court Integrated Services Program.
He also said there was a possibility of Mr Mansfield getting a bed in a drug rehabilitation facility.
Mr Mansfield does not have any prior convictions.
Magistrate Olivia Trumble bailed Mr Mansfield with conditions that he live in Kyabram with his uncle, comply with CISP, abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew unless he is with his uncle, not use drugs, and not leave Victoria or Australia.
The learner driver is also not allowed to drive unless he is with an accompanying supervising driver.
Ms Trumble told Mr Mansfield she hoped that his spending a night in custody had “been a wake-up call”.
Mr Mansfield will face court again later in September for a CISP review, before coming back to court again in November.
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