Man who robbed Conder McDonald's jailed

In October last year, Jamie Rootsey, 24, climbed through the drive-through window at the McDonald's outlet in south Canberra armed with a double-bladed knife.

He joined another man in stealing $1912.90 in cash from the till, during which a McDonald's employee sustained a small cut to his arm.

While the cut may have been minor, Justice Michael Elkaim said the effect on the victim's emotional and psychological wellbeing would have been major.

The Gilmore man was arrested a couple of days after the incident and charged with aggravated robbery. He has been in custody since.

The judge sentenced Rootsey to 18 months in prison, with seven months to be served behind bars.

In sentencing the man, Justice Elkaim considered Rootsey's particularly tragic personal history.

The court heard his mother died in a car accident when he was five. He was placed in many short-term foster care homes after his carer, his step-father, physically abused him.

His lawyer Jacob Robertson said Rootsey was the unfortunate product of the territory's failed foster care program.

The court heard the man suffered mental illness, and from 18 had started using cannabis and amphetamines.

"The fact the offender was under the influence of drugs at the time is no excuse where the offending conduct is intended to feed an addiction," Justice Elkaim said.

He said the man had the "potential for a bright future" if he stopped using drugs and that his prospects of rehabilitation were positive.

The judge ordered Rootsey to repay $1000 to the McDonald's franchise, noting that there was a co-offender.

The sentence will be suspended from July 1.