Beau Francis McPhan was armed with a machete when he and three other men entered the Cummings Road house at Maddingley in the early hours of August 27.

All four men had disguised themselves by covering their faces.

McPhan was high on ice when he used the machete to cut a cannabis plant, which he put in a bucket. One of his co-accused pointed a firearm at the owner who had approached them after hearing noises about 2.35am.

The qualified carpenter left the house with the cannabis plant and two bags of tools. He dropped the tools in the property's driveway before hiding in thick scrub.

On Tuesday at the County Court in Ballarat, McPhan was sentenced to 17 months' imprisonment, with 181 days already served in pre-sentence detention.

He will be released in under 12 months and will be required to complete a two-year community correction order.

Judge Meryl Sexton said McPhan hardly knew the co-accused but he "foolishly joined in on the enterprise".

She said aggravated burglary was a very serious offence, reflected by the maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.

"Your offence is made even more serious because there was a group of people in disguise, the house was burgled early in the morning and there was some planning," Judge Sexton said.

"It was a terrifying experience for the owners. The woman doesn't want to live there. Clearly it was frightening for them to have their house broken into in the early hours of the morning and for one of them to have a gun. I take this into account," Judge Sexton said.

The judge said she accepted McPhan armed himself with the machete to cut the cannabis plant, he thought he was going to a shed on the property to steal the cannabis and he did not know one of his co-accused had a gun.

The court was told McPhan had no prior convictions and was a person of good character. Judge Sexton said she took into account McPhan's personal background which included an abusive father and the loss of his grandfather - who he looked after for three years - in March.

McPhan started using methamphetamine after he was made redundant from a job he held in Melbourne three years ago, he started using the drug ice and his relationship broke down.

"Your prospects of rehabilitation are good and you are unlikely to reoffend but this will only work if you overcome your addiction," Judge Sexton said.

"My sentence must deter other men from embarking such crimes and to a lesser extent, to deter you," she said.

McPhan pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft. If he did not plead guilty, the judge said she would have sentenced McPhan to five years' imprisonment with a minimum of two years.

Two co-accused have cases proceeding, while the third has not been located.

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