Mario Scott, 25, of Barkly Street, Portland, was jailed for three years on Tuesday after pleading guilty in Warrnambool County Court to armed robbery, trafficking MDMA and negligently dealing with proceeds of crime.

Judge Mandy Fox set a non-parole period of 18-months. Scott has already served 207 days in custody on remand.

Ms Fox said on August 28, Scott attended the Portland RSL where he used to be employed as a chef. 

She said he spent several hours there as a patron, speaking to his mother and another woman who was working. 

Scott's mother bought Scott alcoholic drinks and gave him money to use at the pokies.  

Later that evening Scott went home and continued to drink. He consumed ecstasy and returned to the RSL about 10pm.

Ms Fox said Scott was wearing a balaclava, gloves and holding a makeshift knife when he entered through an unlocked front door.

He held the knife towards the two victims, who retreated in fear.

He then moved to an office area where he stole $1194 in cash from an unlocked safe before stuffing it down his pants and fleeing the premises.

Scott was chased outside by a patron, who saw him drop the cash.

Ms Fox said $1120 was recovered by police in nearby streets. The remaining $74 was never recovered.

Scott was identified through CCTV footage due to his clothes, build and distinctive neck tattoo.

Ms Fox said in the lead up to the offending, Scott's gambling addiction was so bad he had maxed out his brother's credit card and stolen money from his parents. 

The court also heard Scott had gambled money his partner had saved for a car. 

Ms Fox said on August 28 Scott had lost about $3000 on the pokies and was drunk, high on drugs and desperate for more money. 

On August 31, a search warrant executed at Scott's property located the balaclava in his bedroom, as well as 391 ecstasy tablets and $1250 cash in a back pack.

Ms Fox said no other drug trafficking material was located and she accepted that Scott was minding the drugs and cash for an associate.

She said the armed robbery had a "profound impact" on the victim's wellbeing and sense of security. 

In a victim impact statement, the victim said the incident left her feeling angry, scared and unsafe. She said she had since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and was unable to return to work.

"When I shut my eyes, I see him," she said.

Scott's mother did not make a victim impact statement.

Ms Fox said Scott provided a letter to the court, apologising to the victims and expressing his remorse for his actions. 

She said she accepted Scott had high-functioning autism and Graves disease, which he was not taking medication for at the time of the offending. 

She said since being in custody Scott had taken part in rehabilitation for his gambling and addiction to ecstasy. 

She said he had asked for an exclusion of all gambling premises within 300 kilometers of Portland had had good prospects of rehabilitation. 

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