Rhys Dance, 25, of Walsh Road, Warrnambool, has pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to 15 charges.

Magistrate Cynthia Toose said Dance had acted totally irresponsibly, driving with drugs in his system, but having a machete in his vehicle had sinister connotations when it was considered he was also charged with firearm offences.

"It's a very unsavory combination of offences," she said.

"We all know there is a black market in relation to firearms which can be involved in significant offending. A strong message has to be sent to the community."

Ms Toose said Dance was still a young offender who had been clean of drugs for three months but he had in the past shown a complete disregard for the law and safety of the community.

As well as jailing Dance, the magistrate ordered he complete a 12-month corrections order when he is released from prison on August 25.

He has to do 125 hours community work and undertake treatment, rehabilitation and programs as requested.

On the more minor of his 15 offences he was fined $1000 and banned from driving for six months.

Police said that Dance was placed on a corrections order in October 2014 for trafficking and possessing drugs but he did not do the order.

On August 29 number plates were stolen from a car parked in Colac.

The same plates were soon after seen on a white Holden Commodore sedan.

Police found nine rounds of ammunition in the driver's door and a suitcase in the boot contain Dance's personal documents.

The previous owner of the car said he had sold the vehicle to Dance.

On August 30 police pulled over Dance in Colac's Murray Street and conducted a drug test which came back positive to ice, ecstasy and cannabis.

Dance was also unlicensed.

About a month later Dance was intercepted by police in Warrnambool heading south in Banyan Street. 

There was a machete beside the driver's seat and he was still unlicensed.

On September 11 there was a burglary along the Princes Highway at Allestree, near Portland.

About $2000 in cash and a single shot shotgun were stolen.

A co-accused later admitted his part in the offending.

Dance also failed to appear in court on bail.

Defence counsel Kiernan Celestina said his client had "chickened out" of the firearm burglary and acted as a lookout.

He said the co-accused was related to the victims. 

The solicitor said drugs were no longer an issue and Dance was now ready to face the music which could reflect a turning point in his client's life.

Dance has a significant criminal record.