A Murchison panty-thief who walked into a bar stark naked, likely "traumatising" punters, has been given a break in court.

Peter Samuel Brooks, 24, admitted in the Nelson District Court this week one charge of burglary, after a night of drunken debauchery he claims not to remember.

A statement of facts accepted by both parties but not read in open court, details his misadventure.

Brooks was drinking in a Murchison pub on June 7. Just after midnight he left the bar area and found his way to a barmaid's private accommodation, out back.

Brooks entered the woman's bedroom and rifled through her underwear drawer. He took out four pairs and went over to her bed.

He took off all his clothes and got into the bed, with the underwear.

After about 30 minutes Brooks got up, and, leaving his clothes at the foot of the bed, walked back into the bar area "completely naked" and making "no attempt to cover himself".

He told punters, and the barmaid whose bed he had been in, where he had been.

The woman ran to check her room. Realising what had happened, she rushed back into the bar with Brooks' clothes and told him to get dressed, before arranging for him to be taken home.

She sought reparation of $120 for the underwear, "which had to be destroyed".

Defence lawyer Mark Dollimore told the court that Brooks had no memory of the events.

He said his client was drinking heavily on Thursday June 6 with mates from his rugby club.

Their drinking session continued through to Friday morning when they played a round of "drink-a-hole" golf at 9am.

Mr Dollimore said Brooks and some of his mates went to the pub at abound 8pm, after which Brooks' memory lapsed.

Despite not remembering what he did, Brooks fully accepted responsibility, as word had quickly travelled around the rural community and people had filled him in on the darker details of his night, Mr Dollimore said.

He said the case had been successfully resolved through restorative justice, which was possible partly because Murchison was a small town where "everyone knows everybody".

Brooks' behaviour had already been forgiven, though not forgotten, Mr Dollimore said.

"He's welcome back at the pub, they are more than happy to see him again."

Brooks had apologised to the barmaid, started an alcohol and drug dependency course, and willingly made a $400 donation to the Murchison Theatre, Mr Dollimore said.

His drunken misadventure may even have had a silver lining because it prompted him to lay off the booze, and since being sober he had been promoted from farm-hand to herd-manager, Mr Dollimore said.

Judge Richard Russell said "at first glance the summary of facts reads very badly indeed", but he accepted that Brooks and the victim knew each other, and that she "did not take offence".

However, other people at the bar did not deserve to see Brooks in the buff, he said.

"Any person would be somewhat traumatised or apprehensive about what happened," Judge Russell said.

He said burglary was a serious offence, carrying a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, but that was inappropriate in this case.

"This is an exceptional case from the norm."

He convicted Brooks and ordered him to "come up if called upon", meaning there would be no further punishment on top of the reparation payments he had already made.

However, if Brooks offends again within a year he could be re-sentenced on the burglary charge, Judge Russell said.

"You have been given a break by the court system today.

"Use it as incentive to keep up the good work you have started."