Zac William Joe Charles Waite, 22, was sentenced in the Bendigo County Court on Tuesday to 12 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of three months, taking into account 54 days already served.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary, four counts of theft, criminal damage, theft of a firearm, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, in relation to the offences committed in the early hours of April 2.

He was also fined $500 after pleading guilty to going equipped to steal, possessing a prohibited weapon, and possessing a controlled weapon without lawful excuse.

The court heard sometime between 3am and 4am on April 2, Waite went to a Kronk Street property, carrying a bag that contained gloves, pliers, torches and a flip knife.

He peeled back the tin of a shed, reached in and opened the door, then stole a chainsaw.

About 4.30am, Waite went to another property in Kronk Street and stole numerous items from an unlocked ute, including binoculars, a DVD camera, pairs of sunglasses, a magnifying glass and sharpening tool.

He then stole tins and matches from another vehicle, before entering a shed and rummaging through cupboards.

An occupant of the property awoke and told Waite to leave, following him for a short distance before calling police.

Waite then climbed the fence of a property at the corner of Kronk Street and Marong Road, leaving his bag in the grass at the boundary.

He went into a shed and stole a filleting knife, then moved to another room of the shed and used bolt-cutters to break into a gun safe, taking a single-barrel 12-gauge shotgun.

By this time, police had arrived in the area and found Waite’s bag, before seeing him in the shed.

Waite exited with the shotgun, prompting the officers to draw their guns and warn him not to move.

He walked behind the shed and came back out, saying he did not have a gun but a knife, which he dropped on instruction. The shotgun was found two metres away.

Waite was on a community corrections order at the time of the offences.

His defence lawyer Eleanor Millar told the court her client had a number of vocational qualifications and prospects of gainful employment.

He had also begun other courses in custody.

But Ms Millar said Waite’s time in custody had been tough, marred by a serious injury that resulted in the removal of his spleen and an assault.

The court heard Waite had mental health issues and Ms Millar said he had self-medicated with illegal drugs.

Ms Millar submitted that her client’s crimes fell at the lower end of seriousness for each of the offences, and the theft of the gun was not planned.

She said his grandmother, who lived in Kyabram, was willing to let him live with her, and he seemed better able to resist drugs while away from Bendigo.

In sentencing Waite, Judge Lisa Hannan noted his offending dated back to early 2016 and he had breached every community corrections order he was placed on.

Judge Hannan said any charge involving a firearm was concerning, but acknowledged Waite had likely stolen it only to obtain money.

Waite had skills that would help him obtain employment, she said, and a letter he wrote indicated remorse.

She accepted his health issues left him more vulnerable and his time in custody more onerous.

“I think your prospects of rehabilitation remain guarded,” Judge Hannan said, but noted that, as a youthful offender, his rehabilitation offered the community the best protection from reoffending.

She gave Waite a longer than normal parole period, for rehabilitation and his health issues.

If it were not for Waite’s guilty plea – he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity – he would have faced a jail term of 18 months, with a non-parole period of nine months.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.