Louise Bryson, 40, received a jail term of two years and 10 months, with a minimum of 14 months, for aggravated burglary and intentionally causing injury to 75-year-old Wodonga man Leo Duncan.

She struck him multiple times in the back of the head with a wooden plank on April 15 last year while he was at home, in an attack orchestrated by Bryson and boyfriend Paul Branson to steal $140 of his cash for drugs.

The County Court heard Bryson, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder, had personal issues with Mr Duncan before the assault.

Judge Frank Gucciardo said the behaviour was “utterly unacceptable”.

“To steal money from an acquaintance, even at the cost of injury, or in revenge in your case Bryson, it is a revolting and repulsive act,” he said.

“It is an offence which strikes at the heart of the safety and security of each person, in the comfort of your home, safety and security each citizen is entitled to feel.”

Bryson told police and the court Branson had threatened her with violence if she did not carry out the assault, but Judge Gucciardo said he considered their involvement as equal.

“Even if pressure or threats had been applied to you, Bryson, by Branson, the vehemence and violent intensity of your attack was vicious,” he said.

He said even though she wrote a letter to the court expressing regret and promising to not use hard drugs again in the future, that was counterbalanced by previous comments that she was justified in assaulting Mr Duncan.

Branson was last month sentenced to three years and 10 months in jail for his role in orchestrating the ambush and will be eligible for parole after two years and three months.

Judge Gucciardo said Bryson’s sentence was lower because she helped police with the investigation and gave an oath to provide evidence against Branson if his case had gone to trial.