The victim said he never expected a criminal to be interested in private letters written from loved ones, yet they were all taken from his home in September last year.

"I am still dealing with anxiety," the man wrote in a victim impact statement read to the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday.

James Felekos, 30, of Wilson Street, Colac, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and serious driving offences.

His lawyer said Felekos had a long-standing addiction to ice and post traumatic stress disorder after a break-in at his family business in Colac.

But prosecutor Carolyn Howe said being a victim of crime did not reduce Felekos' culpability .

"He's gone and offended in a similar manner to other people ," she said.

Felekos was jailed for one year and 10 months with a non-parole period of 16 months.

He has already served 283 days in custody on remand.

The court heard the burglaries occurred between September 18 and October 26 last year.

Felekos broke into properties at Point Cook, Norlane, and Dreeite South and stole cameras, electronics, personal belongings and power tools worth thousands of dollars.

In a victim impact statement, one victim said items stolen from his family home included cash, electronics and jewellery.

"Among the items were several pieces of jewellery gifted to my wife by her dying mother 12 years ago," he wrote.

He said Felekos also stole birthday cards, private letters and a computer with 12 years of family photos - none of which were recovered.

The victim said he and his young family were all left terrified of another break-in and slept in the same room together for more than three weeks.

The court heard the offending occurred just 20 days after Felekos was released from custody for identical offending.

He then fled police on numerous occasions, including one incident when he failed to stop and sped off at 103km/h in a 60km/h zone.

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