Judge Martin Blackmore imposed the sentence in the District Court at Albury on Joshua Daniel Vandeventer, 19, with the term backdated to October 22 last year when he went into custody.

He will not be eligible for parole on five aggravated break and enter offences until July 21, 2014.

A further period of one year and nine months has been imposed for parole with Judge Blackmore saying a long period was needed for treatment to ensure Vandeventer overcomes drug problems.

“It is somewhat unfortunate that the offender has gone down this destructive path in life,” Judge Blackmore said.

He said Vandeventer had made many bad choices along the way.

Vandeventer, who left home at 12 and began consuming alcohol and using cannabis, was accompanied by others for a break-in at the Albury Club in September last year.

Antique watches, $4498 cash, an iPod and laptop computer were stolen.

There were four other break-ins at motels and substantial amounts of money were taken from three.

An employee at the fourth motel disturbed Vandeventer and an accomplice and they fled.

Barrister Michael King said Vandeventer was assisted by others and they were all in the throes of drug addiction.

“There was a pattern of behaviour that continued for a little over a week,” Mr King said.

He said the offenders found it not difficult to get into motels and find keys.

Mr King said despite his age Vandeventer was at the crossroads in life.

Judge Blackmore was told Vandeventer recently became a father and had a child aged five months.

He is serving his first period in jail and when first put into custody was diagnosed with a psychosis of hearing voices from his amphetamine use.

Mr King said Vandeventer had decided to write letters to apologise to the business owners.

Judge Blackmore said previous attempts to rehabilitate Vandeventer had fallen on deaf ears.

But becoming a father has seen him want to become a law-abiding citizen.