Richard Michael Rubino, 26, pleaded guilty in September to one theft and three burglaries, which occurred between November 2010 and February 2011.

Rubino and Michael John Robertson, 41, smashed into pay parking machines at Westfield Belconnen and stole about $7200 in January 2011.

The pair, along with a third unidentified man, also repeatedly burgled the Weston Club, smashing through a window and then using a petrol-powered demolition saw to break into gaming machines.

The trio stole tens of thousands of dollars, but caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

Rubino was due to stand trial this month, but pleaded guilty in September after prosecutors dropped four other counts of theft and property damage.

He appeared before ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Helen Murrell for sentencing on Monday.

Rubino gave evidence that he was only a follower in committing the crimes, and was only paid in drugs.

The court also heard he had a plan to start a new life in Queensland, and had also been a good father to his young children.

He said he had also managed to restrict his use of the drug ice.

But Chief Justice Murrell said Rubino was ‘‘not a believable witness’’, describing him as evasive and not forthright.

Defence barrister Ken Archer argued for a sentence on parity with Rubino’s co-offender, Robertson, who was sentenced to seven years, much of which was suspended after some time in full-time custody and a two-year period of weekend detention.

But Chief Justice Murrell said that Robertson had impressed the court through his rehabilitation efforts.

She said that wasn’t a consideration in Rubino’s case, noting a lot more was needed for the man to turn his life around.

He was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison, and will be eligible for parole in January 2017.

Rubino was on conditional liberty at the time of the offences, forcing the court to resentence him for a burglary of a Wooloworths store in 2009.