Brian Gregory Walters, 30, can expect weekend detention if he continues with rehabilitation.

But Justice Hilary Penfold told Walters to expect more jail time if he failed to turn his life around.

Walters pleaded guilty in the ACT Supreme Court to unlawful confinement, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using an offensive weapon.

He also asked the court to deal with scheduled offences of furious driving and driving while without a licence.

The court heard Walters and another man took the dealer to Mount Majura in July last year, after a dispute over a $2500 debt.

They tied his hands and feet using telephone cables and tape before leaving him in a ditch hidden beneath a log.

The victim escaped but was assaulted by Walters and the other man several days later at a unit.

The court heard Walters repeatedly punched, kicked, elbowed and stomped on the complainant, including on his head, leaving the man with 27 separate injuries.

Walters then guarded the man with a speargun until the next day when the victim escaped after saying he had a Centrelink appointment.

He instead went to the police to report the incident.

The court heard Walters could barely remember the assault as he had been drinking and using drugs at the time.

On Thursday, Justice Penfold deferred the sentence for one year.

The judge said if Walters could continue to rehabilitate, then he could expect weekend detention and a suspended jail sentence.

But Justice Penfold warned if he reoffended or fell back into alcohol and drugs, he would be jailed for another 20 months.

''If you don't take this chance … then you'll be back in prison for quite a while,'' Justice Penfold said.

''That's a big chunk of your life to have wasted.

''I really hope you're strong enough … not to revert to your old damaging ways.''