The manager of a struggling cafe who torched the venue will be unable to avoid jail for the arson attack.
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Rocky Pereira pleaded guilty to several charges in the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Wednesday following the fire at RM Fresh on July 16 last year.
The Stanley Street building was gutted by the blaze, which was started in an electrical room and damaged adjoining businesses.
The fire caused $141,749 in damage to the electrical room at the complex, and $50,000 in damage to the cafe.
Pereira also admitted to obtaining for another a financial advantage by altering a bank form.
A charge of attempting to obtain property by deception with a false insurance claim for the fire was withdrawn.
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The 27-year-old attended the scene after the incident and spoke to detectives, but had denied involvement.
Other cameras near his home filmed Pereira leaving the property about 3am and returning just before 4am, with the burning building spotted by a passing paramedic about 4.15am.
The court previously heard the cafe had debts of $20,000 to $30,000.
He had run the business for about six months before the blaze and previously ran a Dean Street cafe.
Pereira's lawyer said he "will no doubt be receiving a custodial sentence for these matters" following Wednesday's guilty plea.
The court heard Pereira had "issues" he needed to address before he gets locked up.
His lawyer asked the case be put on hold in the County Court until February, but magistrate Peter Mithen said that was a matter for the higher court.
Pereira's bail to a unit on Wagga Road in Lavington was continued.
In an odd twist, an image appears to show the cafe manager recently winning a $56,310 jackpot on a poker machine, with a screen on the device depicting flames as the jackpot goes off.
After being asked how he wanted to plead, he replied "guilty your honour", but otherwise didn't speak.
The case will return to court on October 21.
