Robert John James Smith, 27, targeted a charity premises, a school and the council chambers at Gilgandra and a home at Peak Hill, with his tools of the trade being a chisel, socks and a torch.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of break and enter with intent, two counts of break, enter and steal, possessing housebreaking implements and being a convicted offender armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Magistrate Philip Stewart imposed an aggregate sentence of a three-year term of imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years.

The court heard that on the night of January 9 Smith had forced entry to a premises of charity Barnardos in Bundy Street, but when he triggered its alarm, he fled.

In early April during a visit to Peak Hill, Smith entered the rural property of an elderly man.

He broke into a garage that contained a small firearms safe, forced it open and removed four firearms and a box of rifle bullets.

On the night of June 3-4 while on bail for the earlier charges Smith broke into Gilgandra High School and stole $340 and then left, but not before leaving a distinct boot impression found by police when they examined the scene, court documents show.

On the night of June 9-10 Smith returned to the school and broke into six staff rooms, seven classrooms, and one store room.

On the night of June 18 he had a pair of socks, a small LED torch and a chisel and made his way to Gilgandra council chambers, where he attempted to break and enter, but was observed by a witness who called police, the documents show.

Smith took shelter behind a green rubbish bin and attempted to secrete the chisel underneath the bin and hide his gloves within the waistband of his pants before he was found and arrested at the scene.

In sentencing Smith on Friday, Mr Stewart said the break and enter at a charitable organisation was "disgraceful conduct".

"The breaking and entering into residential premises is just as morally reprehensible," he said.

Smith had started using ice about 12 months ago as a method of overcoming his binge drinking, the court heard.

The magistrate said that while he accepted Smith's criminal behaviour was carried out for the purpose of gaining money to purchase drugs, there was no mention in the facts of his arrest on June 18 that he was in any way affected by drugs at the time.

Mr Stewart rejected a submission from the defence that the sentence could be wholly suspended for a number of reasons, including that a suspended sentenced could only be imposed where the term was for not more than two years.

Smith will be eligible to release on parole in July 2017.