Giriwa May believed he was "Peter Brock reincarnated".
However, he would win no trophies or admirers for his actions behind the wheel of a stolen four-wheel drive last year.
Instead, on Thursday, he was sentenced to four years and 10 months' jail.
High on drugs, May rammed a police car and then drove the vehicle through the entrance of a shopping centre, causing patrons to run for their lives.
CCTV shows May crashing through the glass doors of the shopping centre. (Supplied)
County Court Judge Stewart Bayles said May showed complete disregard for the safety of police who tried to arrest him and people inside the Northland Shopping Centre in Preston.
"People could have been killed or seriously injured," Judge Bayles said.
"One can only imagine the fear and the terror this conduct must have instilled in those people."
Drug driver escaped arrest by ploughing through shopping centre
On June 18 last year a Northland security camera detected that the number plate on a stolen Landcruiser May was driving was itself stolen.
Police were contacted and arrived soon after in an unmarked vehicle.
Two officers tried to box May in, but he put the Landcruiser in reverse and rammed the police car out of the way.
May rammed his way out of the carpark after police parked behind him in an unmarked vehicle. (Supplied)
He then headed for the shopping centre entrance.
The two-tonne vehicle crashed through the centre's security bollards and glass doors, then sped past retailers and hit a children's playground.
May drove the four-wheel drive through another exit, narrowly missing children wearing backpacks and people carrying their shopping.
Footage of the incident showed some shoppers running. Others dived out of the way. One woman can be seen pushing her pram into a shop, before racing to grab a young boy who was metres from being struck.
The stolen Landcruiser smashed through displays inside the shopping centre. (Supplied)
No-one was hurt, but Judge Bayles described chaotic scenes at the centre.
"There is no audio on the CCTV footage but witnesses describe people as screaming, lying on the ground and crawling to get out of the way and avoid being hit," he said.
The CCTV footage shows May driving out of the shopping centre and away from police in pursuit.
He was arrested the following day in East Melbourne.
The cost of the damage to the shopping centre was about $145,000.
Driver compared himself to racing legend
May made no comment to police who arrested him the next day.
However evidence from his phone showed he had filmed himself his watching a news story about his actions at Northland. He can be heard saying: "It's f***ing mayhem alright, beast, Peter Brock reincarnated."
No-one was injured in the crash. (ABC News)
He sent an associate a photo of himself and the stolen vehicle on Snapchat, and wrote: "Peter Brock ain't got nut'n on me".
He texted another person: "Cuz I'm on the run hectic … that was me on the news."
The court heard May was a heavy drug user, consuming up to a gram of methamphetamine a day.
On Thursday, Judge Bayles said May was remorseful and spoke of his shame for letting down members of the Indigenous community.
Giriwa May pleaded guilty to a range of charges including conduct endangering life and handling stolen goods. (Supplied)
May pleaded guilty to intentionally exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving, conduct endangering life, handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified and damaging property.
He will have to serve a minimum of two years and 10 months' jail before being eligible for parole.
With time served, May could be released in April 2028.