'Unquestionably amateur robber' jailed after botched McDonald's hold-up

Merlin Jarred Beattie, 28, pulled up to the Griffith McDonald's in a stolen car on June 15, 2017, while his passenger threatened the cashier with a gun and demanded cash.

But the quick thinking cashier simply closed the window.

Beattie pleaded not guilty to attempted aggravated robbery in company and driving a stolen car but a jury later found him guilty.

Surveillance footage showed the offence had been committed but the Crown still needed to prove he was the driver.

Beattie's DNA and fingerprints were found across the car and on an object inside it.

While he tried to provide an innocent explanation, the jury declined to accept it.

He appeared in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for the crimes.

"Although it might be said that this robbery would have been successful but for the cashier’s quick thinking, I think it was doomed to failure because the whole history of the attempt was so riddled with ineptitude that something was bound to go wrong," Justice Michael Elkaim said.

"I note for example that while the offenders pulled on their balaclavas in anticipation of a CCTV camera at the pickup point they had not anticipated any cameras when placing their orders."

Justice Elkaim said there were many positive elements to Beattie's life but they had been overwhelmed by his use of drugs.

"His rehabilitation and, in reality, his whole future depends on him doing something about his drug use and putting it behind him," he said.

As well as the McDonald's incident, Beattie was to be resentenced in the ACT Supreme Court for crimes of dishonesty for which he was already serving a suspended prison term.

Justice Elkaim said Beattie should serve five months for those offences.

The judge jailed Beattie for a total of three years, five months and 19 days, setting a non-parole period of 23 months.

He will be eligible for release in October 2020.