Police caught Nathan Broughton, 36, with more than $3800 cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime, 1.8 grams of methamphetamine, deal bags, scales and two knives in his car on Friday.

The Golden Point man appeared in the dock and pleaded guilty to five charges including drug trafficking at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Senior Constable Ben Jones said police saw Broughton driving about 7.45pm on Wattle Avenue in Wendouree and approached him when he pulled up outside a house.

Broughton consented to police searching his car.

They found more $3805 in his wallet suspected of being the proceeds of crime and in the car they found deal bags, two scales and a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine.

A flick knife was found in the glove box and a small pocket knife was in the driver's side door.

The court heard Broughton was driving while unlicensed at the time.

His car was impounded at a cost of more than $1400.

Police seized Broughton's mobile phone. He refused to give his password but police guessed it and found messages containing references to cash payments and points of 'ice coffee'.

Magistrate Noreen Toohey noted Broughton's extensive criminal history and 'serious recidivist offending' for trafficking drugs.

The court heard Broughton had served extensive periods of imprisonment for drug trafficking in the past and was released from an 18 month term in February.

A defence lawyer said Broughton was entering a plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity given he was remanded on Friday and this was an indication of his remorse.

"He has a very serious addiction to methamphetamine use and the trafficking goes with the use," she said.

The lawyer said Broughton was released from a straight term of imprisonment in February with no support, immediately relapsed into drug use and was 'back on the merry go round'.

She asked the court to consider sentencing Broughton to a lengthy community corrections order with an intensive period of support, as jail was not addressing his underlying addiction.

"If he goes back to court he is unlikely to get parole and will come out and be in the same position again," the lawyer said.

"He said he has never done detox or rehabilitation... jail is not addressing what the court or community wants.

"Corrections orders are designed so they can be a very punitive option for sentencing. It would make him work very hard to stay on the outside."

Magistrate Noreen Toohey said he was given an opportunity on a community corrections order in 2016 but breached it and continued to re-offend.

"The court has absolutely no option but to sentence him to jail for trafficking," she said.

Ms Toohey said she would likely sentence Broughton to 12 months' imprisonment, followed by a community corrections order.

He will be assessed for the community corrections order and formally sentenced on Wednesday.

"He ought to understand the community is concerned about trafficking methamphetamine. It is an enormous problem," Ms Toohey said.

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