Robbers went to steal heroin from a home but ended up making off with an empty tin of baby formula, a coffee machine, and mail instead.
A person known as "Mouse" had told the group about the supposed drug stash.
One of the robbers, Brett John Scott, 40, faced the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday for the start of his sentencing.
He had previously pleaded guilty to joint commission aggravated robbery.
Agreed facts state that in November 2023 the victim heard a knock at the door and saw Scott, who asked: "Where is the heroin?"
Scott and three co-accused robbers then pushed past the victim and into the house.
One of them attacked the other man and demanded to know where the heroin was, because a person known as "Mouse" had told them drugs were at the home.
Scott stood over the victim and threatened that if he called the cops they would send "guys around".
The group then ransacked the hallway and lounge room while continuing to demand where the heroin was.
One of the robbers assaulted the victim, pulled his hair and tried to kick him.
After about five minutes the group left with audio equipment, a 12 pack of ginger beer, a Makita worksite coffee machine, other people's mail and an empty baby formula tin with keys inside.
The robbers were caught on CCTV entering and leaving the home.
Scott told police he was the first to leave with an empty baby formula tin in hand telling the others, "let's go".
The 40-year-old gave evidence to the court on Thursday, telling Justice Belinda Baker that crime was "the only life I know".
"I've seen things I don't wish to talk about, and I don't wish on any other person ever," he said.
Scott told the court he had been clean of drugs and alcohol while in jail and wanted to "continue my recovery and build coping strategies".
"I want to work with all my heart to succeed in not picking up drink again," he said.
"I want to cut ties with this lifestyle that I've become accustomed to.
"I want to do something that is meaningful to me, but also have my family proud of me."
Legal Aid lawyer Nathan Deakes argued for his client to serve a sentence in the community, rather than more time behind bars.
Mr Deakes said Scott had already spent more than six months in jail while on remand for the crime.
"This is not a man who has been lost to society, this is a man who has been lost down the cracks but is determined to climb out," he told the court.
Prosecutor Henry Robinson told the court that the robbery was committed shortly after Scott had finished parole after being jailed for "a similar kind of offence".
Mr Robinson said Scott had "a long standing problem with drugs" which "leads him into offending that is violent".
"The prevalence of [illicit drugs] and the temptation of them outside of custody are greater," he stated.
Justice Baker is set to hand down Scott's sentence at a later date.
