A man who robbed a 22-year-old Cobden service station attendant at knifepoint has had his sentencing adjourned.
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Mitchell Darkes, 28, of Bacchus Marsh, attended the Cobden BP Roadhouse service station on November 23 last year, produced a large knife and demanded cash.
The female victim froze and ran into the kitchen where two other females, aged 25 and 54, were located.
Darkes jumped the counter, entered the kitchen and again made demands for money.
The three victims left the kitchen and the 54-year-old victim handed the man $565 cash.
Darkes pleaded guilty to armed robbery in Melbourne County Court in April.
On Friday, during a further plea hearing, Judge Duncan Allen said a further mental health assessment was required before Darkes could be sentenced.
Judge Allen said the man was "seriously institutionalised" after spending most of the past eight years in custody.
He said Darkes' history involved "serious childhood trauma which requires intensive treatment from a state government Forensicare psychiatrist which he will not receive in jail".
The judge said the offending was serious and involved a "soft target".
"No doubt the victims in that case would have been terrified by the offender's conduct," he said.
The judge said the offending should be condemned but specific deterrence in sentencing was problematic.
"(Darkes) is obviously disturbed by long-term psychological and psychiatric issues which require lengthy, intensive treatment," he said.
"And in my experience, and in light of other reports I've read in recent times, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that this is highly unlikely (to occur in custody)".
The judge said treatment was "urgently and desperately needed to achieve rehabilitation in order to protect the community upon Darkes' eventual release custody".
Darkes will appear in court again on August 27.
He was further remanded in custody where he will undergo further assessment, including for a community corrections order.
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