Kade McHenry, 23, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Wednesday to trespassing, theft and assault-related offences.

He was jailed for 12 months with a non-parole period of six months.

Having already served more than seven months on remand, McHenry is likely to already be eligible for parole and could be immediately released back into the community.

McHenry is already serving a community corrections order following an 18-month jail sentence for an unrelated violent home invasion.

The court heard that corrections order was ongoing at the time of the new offending in April.

Between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on April 6, McHenry attended properties in Hamilton's Ballarat Road and checked for unlocked vehicles.

CCTV footage depicted him successfully entering one unlocked vehicle and stealing an EFTPOS card.

He also entered a Ford Falcon sedan and stole an interior light globe.

Then at 8.36pm, McHenry entered a Toyota Hilux ute on Kokoda Street.

The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

The 19-year-old male victim saw the accused seated in the driver's side of his vehicle and went to confront him.

The victim attempted to physically remove McHenry from the vehicle.

The court heard McHenry then grabbed a pocket knife and stabbed the victim three times to the left hand.

He was pulled out of the vehicle where he further stabbed the man to the left side of the chest.

A witness came to the victim's assistance.

McHenry, who had an item of clothing concealing his face, ran off towards Ballarat Road.

He remained on the run for a number of days before his arrest.

The victim was transported to Hamilton Base Hospital, where he spent the night.

He suffered four stab wounds and a bruised lung.

Lawyer Manny Brennan said the incident in Hamilton was not as serious as the aggravated home invasion his client was previously convicted of.

"He had no intention to stab the victim in this matter, at least not when he started out," he said.

"His intention was to steal a motor vehicle to go back to Ballarat for an emergency.

"He said it all happened very quickly, it was a reactive response. While I'm not seeking to at all diminish the seriousness of the offending, it does not have that level of premeditation."

Mr Brennan said McHenry's partner had recently given birth to his client's first child.

He said McHenry's inability to meet his child in custody weighed heavily on him and made his time on remand more onerous.

Magistrate Steven Raleigh said McHenry was "still a young man with a chance to redeem himself".

He said he hoped it was the last time he saw the man before the court.

He said McHenry was a young person who was "very lucky to have the supports that you do so that you can turn your life around".

"But we all know that if you go back on the drugs, we will be seeing you again," the magistrate said.

"I hope that doesn't happen."

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