Maxwell David Brown, 57, from Merri Street, was contesting the charge at Warrnambool Magistrates' Court and faced a prison sentence.

But changing to a late guilty plea, Mr Brown was instead given 120 hours of unpaid community service.

Prosecutor Kevin Mullins told the court the Warrnambool Criminal Investigation Unit began Operation Relic after four burglaries at an elderly Noorat woman's house between March 2002 and November 2007.

The items stolen were valued at thousands of dollars and included collectibles such as toys, medallions and rare coins.

Police ended Operation Relic on July 14 last year after gaining a search warrant for Mr Brown's Merri Street home, where they found items stolen in the burglaries.

Defence counsel Michelle Mykytowycz told the court Mr Brown wished to contest the charges on the basis "he legitimately bought them but doesn't have the receipts."

She said Mr Brown frequented op-shops, garage sales and antique stores and he had purchased the stolen items from a third party who has since died.

However, Magistrate Felicity Broughton said Mr Brown's late guilty plea was "indicative of some remorse."

"If you had continued to plead not guilty I would have imposed a prison term, but I would not have required you to serve it immediately.

"The court has no suggestion you were involved in the burglaries... but without the market for these goods there would be less burglaries.

"When people have their homes broken into it has a profound effect on their sense of safety."

Following an assessment which found Mr Brown as a low-risk, Magistrate Broughton handed down the sentence of a 12 month community-based order with conviction.