Imran Hakimi, 32, yelled and made threats as he attacked cars with the machete and a paring knife during the 40 minute ordeal that began at the corner of Cameron Avenue and Chandler Street in Belconnen before midnight on November 13 last year.

Hakimi ran towards the front passenger side of one woman's vehicle and hit at the window and door frame with the machete, court documents said.

He then opened the door and held the knife against the woman's throat, causing a shallow cut to her throat which drew blood.

The woman managed to unbuckle her seatbelt and escape as Hakimi began to attack a taxi.

He struck the bonnet with the knife, before opening the driver side door, and yelling: "I have lost my kids, I will stab you, you black c---."

Hakimi then struck at the taxi driver, cutting the man's chin.

The driver grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the vehicle.

Both passengers got out of the taxi, pulling Hakimi to the ground and restraining him.

A nearby security guard and another bystander ran to help, and Hakimi was held at the scene until police arrived.

Hakimi was arrested and later pleaded guilty to a string of charges linked to the rampage, including intentional wounding, possessing a weapon with intent, and property damage.

Prosecutors told a hearing last month Hakimi's actions towards people "just going about their business" had been aggressive, agitated and forceful and in close proximity to his victims, although there was no evidence it was pre-planned.

Hakimi's defence team argued his behaviour was out of character and he had been in a highly-charged, emotional state at the time.

Justice John Burns said some of Hakimi's behaviour could only be described as "bizarre" as he handed down his sentence in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday.

But he acknowledged the rampage happened against a backdrop of Hakimi's ongoing mental health problems, which included major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol consumption earlier that night.

The court heard Hakimi had fled the traumatic surrounds of his childhood home in Afghanistan, travelling through Iran and Indonesia before arriving in Australia by boat as a refugee aged 16.

He spent four years at Woomera immigration detention centre in South Australia where Justice John Burns acknowledged he experienced significant psychological trauma.

"I have no doubt those matters continue to trouble you today," he said.

Justice Burns noted Hakimi had also been distressed by family law court proceedings that were afoot, but pointed out the victims he targeted that night were not known to him in any way.

He had been drinking with neighbours in the hours before the rampage and Justice Burns accepted he was probably under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack.

Hakimi claimed to have no memory of the incident which, if true, suggested a high level of intoxication, the judge said.

He believed Hakimi had reasonable to good prospects for rehabilitation and was unlikely to reoffend, particularly if he continued to seek help for his mental health problems and avoided consuming intoxicating amounts of alcohol.

Justice Burns accepted Hakimi had expressed remorse and his offending was out of character, citing a witness statement describing him as "a caring human being" who had been significantly affected by his family problems at the time.

But he said the seriousness of the offending, even though the injuries inflicted on the victims were relatively minor, meant a term of imprisonment was the only option.

Justice Burns sentenced Hakimi to three years behind bars with a non-parole period of 22 months.

He will be eligible for parole in September 2017.