Jonathan Peterson, 25, pleaded guilty in the County Court in Bendigo on Thursday to attempted armed robbery and intentionally causing injury in relation to the attack on December 29, 2018.

That night, Peterson left his home after his then-partner asked him to go get tobacco.

Meanwhile, the victim went out to play the augmented reality game Pokemon Go in the area.

About 11pm, the victim walked down a path off Eaglehawk Road and came across Peterson, who asked him for a cigarette.

He said he did not have any, so Peterson then asked for $5.

The victim explained he did not have anything except his phone, but Peterson pulled out a small knife, said, "Give us what you've got", and lunged at the victim.

The victim said it felt like he was being punched to the face and chest, but after fleeing to a nearby petrol station for help he realised he was bleeding profusely.

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An attendant called an ambulance and he was taken to hospital, where it was discovered he had two stab wounds to the neck and another to the shoulder.

His wounds were sutured and he was discharged from hospital on December 31.

Peterson and the victim did not know each other.

After the stabbing, Peterson threw his knife away.

He drew the attention of a resident in Winze Court, to whom he said: "Everyone thinks I'm drug-crazed. I've just had to stab someone for a cigarette".

The following day, police used a dog to track scent from the scene of the crime to the vicinity of Peterson's home in Pearl Place.

They searched Peterson's home and found clothing matching the description of the victim and a witness, and blood on a pair of shoes and a door handle.

The knife was found nearby.

Peterson was arrested and denied involvement in the attack.

He said the blood found in his house was his, because he had smashed a car window.

When shown a photograph of the knife, Peterson said he had never seen it and none of his DNA nor fingerprints would be found on it.

But testing of the blood revealed it was the victim's, while DNA on the knife belonged to both the victim and Peterson.

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In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim said his mental health had suffered in the wake of the attack and he had been forced to move home.

"I am now fearful to go out at night, to the point where I won't leave the house," he said.

The "incredibly traumatic experience" had had a financial impact because of the cost of the ambulance, he said, and his physical health had also declined.

Defence counsel Eleanor Millar told the court of Peterson's disadvantaged and unstable upbringing, during which he was shunted between relatives and his sister.

He left school in year 8 and began abusing substances from the age of 13, Ms Millar said, beginning with petrol-sniffing.

She said he had spent much of his time since late adolescence in custody.

The court heard Peterson had disorganised schizophrenia but this had gone untreated prior to this current term in custody.

Ms Millar said Peterson told a psychiatrist he felt he would not have been a "real man" if he could not get a cigarette on the night of the stabbing, and was angry at the victim because he thought he saw him as a "crazy druggie".

She submitted the offending was of mid to low-range seriousness, saying it was unplanned and opportunistic.

Ms Millar said she sought a longer parole period than usual, to provide Peterson with the support he needed upon his release from custody.

Prosecutor Samantha Holmes said the offence of intentionally cause injury was at the higher end of seriousness, noting it was a violent attack and it was "extremely lucky" the victim did not suffer a more critical injury.

But she said Peterson had demonstrated genuine remorse in discussions with a psychiatrist.

Peterson will be sentenced next week.

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