Brandon Lee Burt has been lighting fires - including bush fires - and damaging properties for the past 10 years, the County Court at Ballarat was told on Wednesday.

The Ballarat man has a mild intellectual disability and a personality disorder.

Between August 19 and 20 Burt, who was aged 22, started two fires at Buninyong during a night time crime spree.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Grant said Burt attended a Midland Highway house, which was under construction.

He said the accused threw rocks at a window, causing it to smash, and he entered the house. He then set fire to a blanket, which was covering a stove, and it spread to drop sheets.

Mr Grant said the fire caused almost $100,000 damage.

The court was told Burt caused $970 damage to a window at the Buninyong Foodworks supermarket by smashing it with an unknown object.

Mr Grant said Burt then attended the Buninyong Football Netball Club rooms where he again smashed a window to gain entry.

"He entered a female toilet area, took some paper towel and put it in the bin and set it alight. He moved a nine-kilogram portable gas bottle into the toilets, opened the valve and closed the door," Mr Grant said.

He said fire investigators believed a lack of oxygen caused the fire to extinguish but a fire caused $1200 worth of damage to the ceiling, doors and plaster.

Burt was arrested after police located his fingerprints on broken glass at the club rooms. He told police he had been walking around the Buninyong area that night but denied damaging the premises.

"Mr Burt has a relevant criminal history," Mr Grant said. "Because of those prior offences he stands to be sentenced as a serious arson offender."

Burt's offending breached a community corrections order imposed in the County Court in September 2017 for criminal damage and aggravated burglary.

Defence barrister Amanda Hurst said medical reports tendered to the court showed her client's severe personality disorder contributed to his offending.

She urged the court to consider sentencing Burt to a combination sentence of imprisonment, of which he has served 519 days of pre-sentence detention, and a community correction order.

"He is a young man, with multiple disabilities, who deserves the support of disability services," Ms Hurst said.

But Judge Phillip Coish said Burt's crimes were far too serious to be placed on a CCO. He remanded Burt in custody for sentencing next Wednesday.

Burt pleaded guilty to two counts of arson, two counts of burglary and one count of destroying property. He was not supported in court.

The maximum penalty for burglary is 10 years' imprisonment, 15 years for arson and 10 years for destroying property.

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