James Wayne Harold, 33, of Henry Street, pleaded guilty in the Koori division of the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to 10 charges including counts of aggravated burglary.

He admitted to three police briefs of police evidence and breaching a community corrections order.

Police said that on June 24 last year Harold went to a Warrnambool home under the influence of alcohol to see a woman he knew.

He accused the woman of certain behaviours, took her phone and spat on her face, terrifying the woman.

At 5.15pm that day Harold returned to the address and the woman locked her doors.

He demanded to be let in, was refused entry and he smashed the front windscreen of the woman's car.

Harold threatened to smash her door in if she called police.

Police were notified and when they arrived they found the woman crying and frightened.

She refused to provide a statement to police.

At 10pm that night Harold was arrested but could not be interviewed because he was heavily under the influence of substances.

Police say that at 8.30pm on September 26 Harold went to an address in Covelly Court in Warrnambool to buy drugs.

He had a one litre bottle of whiskey and was yelling in the street before banging on a woman's door.

He forced open the front door, banging a hole in the plaster wall behind the door with the handle.

Harold then picked up items, including a handbag and mobile phone, which contained three bank cards and $1500 in cash which was to buy a fridge

When arrested and bailed to attend a residential rehabilitation centre, Harold lasted eight weeks of a 16-week program.

Police told the court that on the night of November 15 Harold then attended at a Laverock Road unit where he banged on a door and demanded to be let in, swearing and abusing the resident.

The window was smashed near the front door and the victim picked up a mobile phone and locked himself in a bathroom.

Harold cut himself getting in the window and the victim called triple zero, holding the bathroom door closed to prevent Harold getting in.

CCTV footage clearly showed Harold and forensic tests confirmed it was his blood.

Harold was arrested the next day and had spent 116 days before appearing in court.

He already has 10 pages of prior court appearances.

Koori elder Janice Lovett said her main concern was the treatment of women when Harold was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Elder Lenny Clarke said substance abuse - mainly ice - was sweeping across the Aboriginal community.

Harold said he had undertaken a number of courses while in prison to address his alcohol, drug and behavioural issues.

"I'm trying to better myself and change," he said.

Lawyer Amanda Chambers said it was clear that her client was working to change and Harold only exited the rehab program due to the impact of COVID on the services being provided.

She said the victims in the aggravated burglaries were known to Harold and he attended at one address to buy drugs and the second to collect money owed to him.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann called Harold a "bit of an enigma".

He said when the defendant was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol he put himself in situations that led to serious charges.

"People were put in fear in their own homes because of your actions," he said.

The magistrate adjourned the case for sentencing until May 7 to allow a justice plan assessment to be completed.

He said Harold's circumstances had changed considerably, but indicated a sentence would involve a prison term.

"There is more than a glimmer of encouragement. You are taking responsibility for your conduct," Mr Stratmann told Harold.

Mr Harold will remain in Ravenhall Prison while the justice plan assessment is completed.

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