Jerome Lawrence told Wollongong District Court on Thursday that at the height of his addiction he was spending up to $1500 a day on ice – and turned to crime to fund it.

The court heard he forced his way inside a Wollongong apartment in January 2014 armed with a piece of wood and yelled at the male occupant “where’s the stuff”, apparently referring to drugs.

The man responded he didn’t have anything and fled along with his girlfriend over the balcony. He later identified Lawrence as the culprit.

Fourteen months later Lawrence took part in a violent, pre-dawn assault on a Farmborough Heights home owner, who was attacked as he walked through the front door of his home.

Lawrence’s accomplice hit the man in the head with a crowbar, while Lawrence attacked him with an “unknown object”.

The victim was then bundled into a hire car and driven towards Unanderra by Lawrence’s co-accused. Lawrence followed behind in the victim’s car.

The man managed to escape the vehicle and get to a nearby house to call for help. He was taken to hospital for treatment to a broken hand, concussion and numerous cuts and bruises.

Police found Lawrence, his co-accused and the stolen ute at an address in Yellow Rock later that morning.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from the two incidents, including aggravated break and enter.

In court on Thursday, he said he had “woken up to himself” since his incarceration and realised had had “no use for ice anymore”.

Judge Andrew Haesler sentenced Lawrence to three-and-half-years jail, with a non-parole period of two years.

With time served, Lawrence will be released to parole on December 23 this year.