Chad Bailey, who also goes by Chad Humphrey, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to 17 charges including burglary and theft.

The court heard sometime between November 7 and November 10, 2019, Bailey bought a mobile phone and motorbike that were the proceeds of crime.

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Then sometime between 11pm on November 10 and 6.30pm on November 11, Bailey broke into an address in Allingham Street in Golden Square.

He stole a torch, two bottles of cider, a can of Carlton Draught, and a 20-litre fuel canister. He drank the alcohol at the property before leaving.

Bailey then went to the Hit Factory in Golden Square and broke into the site. The court heard he stole a chocolate bar, a windcheater, and $478.45 in cash from the register.

Bailey then urinated in the foyer and defecated in the disabled toilet, smearing it on the toilet walls.

On the evening of November 11, Bailey went to another Golden Square business where he unlocked the back gate and slept at the site. He left the stolen fuel canister at the property.

A couple of hours later, Bailey went to another business where the owner saw him looking suspiciously into cars.

CCTV footage captured Bailey riding the stolen bike along Breen Street in Golden Square later that evening.

Two witnesses also saw Bailey and made a citizen's arrest until police arrived. Police found the stolen phone, windcheater, and cash in his possession.

Bailey was arrested and bailed, but failed to appear in court in February 2020.

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The court heard about 11.08pm on November 8 last year, Bailey was captured on CCTV at a Strathdale address.

He forced open a garage door and attempted to open two vehicles parked at the property, but both were locked.

Bailey then went to a white ute and used an unknown device to damage the rear and driver's side windows. He entered the car and used a torch to see inside but did not take anything from the car.

Bailey then went back to the shed, stole a beer, and drank it before leaving.

The court heard then on December 31 last year, Bailey was drinking with two associates at a Long Gully address.

Bailey became aggressive and the men told Bailey to leave, walking him outside and locking the door.

The court heard Bailey became more angry and smashed the glass panel of the door with a rock.

He climbed through the front door and a physical scuffle broke out between Bailey and one of the men.

Police were called but Bailey left before they arrived.

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Officers arrested him at a Strathdale address on January 6 this year. They found him hiding behind a garage door at the property.

The defence lawyer told the court Bailey had been in and out of prison for the past 12 years.

She said her client had issues with alcohol abuse and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The lawyer said there was a risk Bailey would become institutionalised given his long periods of custody.

She submitted a community corrections order would be an appropriate sentence.

Magistrate Russell Kelly acknowledged the risk of Bailey becoming institutionalised would "soften the sentence".

Bailey was jailed for 15 months with a non-parole period of nine months. His 51 days in custody were reckoned as already served.

If he had not pleaded guilty, Bailey would have been sentenced to 20 months in jail.

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