A young man who pulled a knife on security guards and, just hours later, on a stranger walking home from work will be behind bars until at least October next year.
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ACT Supreme Court Justice John Burns sentenced yesterday Ayden Spicer to three years and two months behind bars, with a non-parole period of 22-months.
Taking into account the 262 days the 23-year-old has already been locked up on remand, Spicer will be eligible for release in October 2012.
Justice Burns said this morning Spicer, who has about 80 criminal convictions to his name, bore a "significant level of moral culpability" for his crimes.
The man pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, attempted theft, assault and resist arrest in relation to the incidents.
The court heard Spicer was drunk on the evening of July 12 last year when he shoved a bottle of vodka down the front of his pants in the City Supa Barn.
Security stopped him at the exit, spotted "an irregular bulge to the front of his pants and shirts" and asked him to hand over the bottle.
Spicer refused, and pulled a 20cm flick-knife from his pocket.
"What the f--- are you going to do," he told the guards before fleeing the area, according to a statement of facts.
About an hour later, Spicer and some friends were walking through City Walk, heading to Glebe Park, when they crossed paths with a 51-year-old man on his way home from work.
Spicer spat a mouthful of drink at the man's face and, when confronted, pulled a knife and began circling the victim, holding the blade at neck height.
The defendant demanded the man's bag but the victim refused, and Spicer gave up.
Police were called and arrested Spicer after he fell down while trying to run from officers and simultaneously pull a knife from his pocket.
During sentencing proceedings, Spicer's counsel argued the man's actions were the result of "youthful stupidity".
"In my opinion that is a gross understatement of the criminality involved in your offending," Justice Burns told Spicer.
But the judge took into account the man's guilty pleas, the spontaneity of the crimes, the low value of the property Spicer took or tried to take, and his age.
He also noted the man was drunk at the time, and began using cannabis and alcohol at the age of 10.
