But Craig Rickard was released from jail on Thursday, having already served the sentence, and placed on a 12-month community correction order.

The man, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court to five charges, including drug-driving, intentionally damaging property and breaching an intervention order.

The prosecution said Rickard and his former partner separated 12 months ago and were not living together when the offending occurred.

However Rickard claimed the relationship continued after he moved out of the property 12 months ago.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Helen Farmer said an interim intervention order was put in place at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on September 23 after Rickard attended the victim's Wendouree address.

On this occasion, Rickard entered an unlocked door after the victim left the house, went to her bedroom and slashed and stabbed two of her leather jackets worth $200 each.

"The accused knew the jackets were favourites of the victim and she was going to wear them to a concert with a male friend," Senior Constable Farmer said.

She said a day later on September 24 the victim's neighbour saw Rickard being dropped off at the victim's house by an unknown person. He left a short time later.

Between September 25 and 26 Rickard tried to contact the victim via mobile phone but he was unsuccessful because she had blocked his phone number.

Senior Constable Farmer said Rickard attended the victim's home on September 25 and acknowledged he should not have been there.

Defence counsel said after Rickard's relationship ended, he started to have issues with methylamphetamine and alcohol and he became homeless.

He was attending the victim's property because he was invited there to have a coffee and to shower, the court was told.

Rickard had not offended since 2010 - a significant gap according to his lawyer - and the court was urged to consider a combined sentence of imprisonment and a community correction order.

In sentencing Rickard, magistrate Ron Saines said it was serious offending but he accepted "mental health may have played a role in your poor decisions".

"A number of acts would have caused concern for your former partner," Mr Saines said.

As part of the community correction order, Rickard will be supervised and must undergo treatment and rehabilitation for drug abuse and mental health.

He was ordered to pay $400 in restitution for damaging the victim's leather jackets. He was ordered off the road for 12 months for drug-driving on May 18.

Rickard served 74 days in pre-sentence detention.

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