Eric Cruz robbed a bottle shop and service station on the afternoon of December 11 last year, stealing $1000 in cash and alcohol valued at $322.

During the robberies, the 25-year-old grabbed two female shop attendants and pointed an imitation handgun at their heads while making demands.

Two boys, aged nine and 14, were also present during the second armed robbery.

All of the victims were vulnerable and the robberies would have been traumatising, County Court Judge Frank Gucciardo said in his sentencing remarks.

The judge rejected Cruz's claim that the offending was spontaneous and borne out of a drug-fuelled bender.

CCTV footage showed Cruz was steady on his feet during the offending and he was able to drive between the stores, Judge Gucciardo said.

The 25-year-old also had an imitation firearm in his possession and he made efforts to conceal his identity which showed the robberies were premeditated, the judge noted.

While Judge Gucciardo accepted Cruz had reasonable prospects of rehabilitation, he said the court needed to denounce such "confronting" offending.

Cruz was jailed for six years but he will be eligible for parole in a little over three years.

Australian Associated Press