A 26-year-old man and 19-year-old co-accused were both on ice when they broke into the woman’s Howitt Street home in the early hours of December 13 last year.

The frightened 22-year-old female victim hid in her bedroom after hearing glass smash, before fleeing the property when one of the men entered her room.

The offenders took off with electrical goods and perfume.

One of the accused, 19-year-old Thomas Dummelow, appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated burglary and theft.

The court heard Dummelow and his 26-year-old associate met at a hut in Creswick before using ice together and headed towards Ballarat.

The 26-year-old selected the house, smashing a window to reach in and open the door.

While searching the house Dummelow saw the victim, and once he realised he knew her also fled the scene.

He was arrested later that morning.

Dummelow’s lawyer, Daniel McGlone, told the court the 26-year-old offender was the most active during the break-in.

Mr McGlone said there were a number of underlying issues which explained his client’s behaviour, including the move to begin using drugs and drinking alcohol to deal with pain he sustained in a car accident.

He said the drug use began with cannabis, which then brought him into contact with other drug users who introduced him to ice.

But he said the ice use never went far.

Since his arrest Dummelow completed the credit bail program which Mr McGlone said helped ensure ice and alcohol was no longer in the picture.

“He has come a long way from where he was late last year,” he said.

Taking into consideration Dummelow’s limited criminal history, his plea of guilty and the one day he spent in custody over the matters, magistrate Johanna Metcalf convicted Dummelow and sentenced him to a nine-month community corrections order.

As part of the order Dummelow will need to undertake treatment for alcohol and drugs and complete 30 hours of community work.